In the Santhome district of Chennai stands the basilica of Saint Thomas, built, tradition holds, over the tomb of the apostle. Thomas is said to have reached the Malabar coast and to have preached in what is now Tamil Nadu, before being martyred, again by tradition, near the nearby St. Thomas Mount around 72 CE. In the 16th century Portuguese missionaries, backed by King John III of Portugal, raised a church over the tomb, consecrated in 1523. That building was pulled down in 1893 and rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style by the Catholic community of British colonial Madras. The new church was consecrated on 1 April 1896 by the bishop of Madras, Dom Henrique José Reed da Silva. On 16 March 1956 Pope Pius XII raised it to the rank of minor basilica. Beneath one of the two central towers an underground crypt, renewed in 2004, marks the place where Thomas is believed to lie: the basilica is one of only three churches in the world built over the tomb of one of the twelve apostles, together with the basilica of Saint Peter in Rome and the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
About San Thome Basilica
San Thome Basilica, in the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is built over the traditional tomb of the Apostle Thomas, whom Christian tradition holds arrived on the Malabar coast of India, preached across the region that includes present-day Tamil Nadu, and was martyred near the nearby St. Thomas Mount around 72 CE, according to tradition, before being buried at the site the basilica now occupies. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries, with the backing of King John III of Portugal, sought out the apostle’s tomb and built a church over it, consecrated in 1523. That Portuguese-era structure was demolished in 1893 and rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style by the Catholic community of British colonial-era Madras, with the new church, featuring pointed arches, tall spires, tracery and rib-vaulted ceilings, consecrated on 1 April 1896 by Bishop Dom Henrique José Reed da Silva of Madras, assisted by the Bishop of Dhaka. On 16 March 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the rank of minor basilica. Beneath one of the basilica’s two central towers, an underground tomb chapel, renovated in 2004, marks the spot where Thomas is traditionally believed to be buried, and the church holds relics attributed to the apostle alongside relics of Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Bartholomew. San Thome Basilica is counted among only three churches in the world built directly over the burial site of one of the twelve apostles, the other two being St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and it serves today as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and a major pilgrimage destination.
Key facts
- Tradition: the Apostle Thomas preached in India and was martyred and buried near present-day Chennai around 72 CE.
- 1523: Portuguese missionaries consecrate the first church over the traditional tomb.
- 1893-1896: the church is demolished and rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style, consecrated 1 April 1896.
- 1956: Pope Pius XII raises the church to minor basilica status.
- One of three churches in the world built over an apostle’s tomb, alongside St. Peter’s Basilica and Santiago de Compostela.
- Tomb crypt beneath a central tower, renovated in 2004.
History
San Thome Basilica’s continuous association with the apostolic tradition of Saint Thomas, spanning Portuguese colonial-era construction, British colonial-era rebuilding, and eventual papal recognition as a minor basilica, reflects the layered history of Christianity on India’s southeastern coast, a presence tradition traces back to the apostolic age itself. Its rare status as one of only three churches worldwide built over an apostle’s tomb places it alongside two of Christianity’s most visited pilgrimage sites, giving Chennai an apostolic landmark of global significance within the wider Christian world.
What you see
The basilica’s Neo-Gothic exterior, rebuilt between 1893 and 1896, features pointed arches, pinnacles and tall twin spires typical of the style, while the interior preserves rib-vaulted ceilings, tracery and stained glass from the same rebuilding campaign. Beneath one of the two central towers, a small underground chapel houses the tomb traditionally identified as that of the Apostle Thomas, a focal point for pilgrims visiting the basilica.
Practical information
- Opening hours: generally open daily with seasonal variation; free admission; check current hours before visiting.
- Address: Santhome High Road, Santhome, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Getting there
San Thome Basilica stands in the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, easily reached by taxi or auto-rickshaw from the city centre. GPS: 13.0336° N, 80.2778° E.
Nearby
- St. Thomas Mount — the traditional site of the apostle’s martyrdom, a drive away.
- Marina Beach — Chennai’s famous seafront, nearby.
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple — historic Hindu temple in the neighbouring Mylapore district.
Sources
- Wikipedia — “St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai” (en.wikipedia.org).
- Wikipedia — “Santhome” (en.wikipedia.org).
- Atlas Obscura — “San Thome Basilica in Chennai” (atlasobscura.com).
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