San Thome Basilica

San Thome Basilica

San Thome Basilica
Location Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Country India
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website www.santhomebasilica.com
History
Former name(s) San Thome Church
Dedication St. Thomas
Relics held Bone of St. Thomas
Architecture
Status Minor Basilica[1]
Functional status Active
Heritage designation National Shrine[2]
Designated 7 February, 2006
Style Gothic
Completed 1523
Specifications
Length 64 metres (210 ft)
Width 12.2 metres (40 ft)
Nave width 10 metres (33 ft)
Spire height 47.2 metres (155 ft)
Clergy
Archbishop Abp. Malayappan Chinnappa

San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

Contents

History

Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas arrived in Kerala from Israel in 52 A.D. preached between 52 A.D. and 72 A.D., when he was martyred on St. Thomas Mount. The basilica is built over the site where he was believed originally to be interred.

San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Madras-Mylapore Catholic Archdiocese. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica, and on February 11, 2006, it was declared a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The San Thome Basilica is a pilgrimage centre for Christians in India. The church also has an attached museum. [3]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ About San Thome Basilica
  2. ^ National Shrine Status
  3. ^ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. http://www.santhomebasilica.com/basilica.html. Retrieved 20 February 2010. 

External links