King42 at 17:19, 5 January 2026

2026-01-05T17:19:52Z

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{{Infobox church
| name = St. Thomas Mount National Shrine Basilica
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| image = Main Entrance St Thomas Mount Church Chennai Aug22 A7C 02249.jpg
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| caption = Main entrance to the church

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| coordinates = {{coord|13.005127|80.1932298|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
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| country = [[India]]

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| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
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| website = {{URL|https://stthomasmountbasilica.com}}

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| founded date = {{start date|1523|df=y}}
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{{distinguish|St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai|Little Mount Shrine}}

'''St. Thomas Mount National Shrine Basilica''' is a [[national shrine]] located in [[Parangimalai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]].

The ancient [[Saint Thomas Christians|Syrian Christian]] community of India traces the origin of their [[Saint Thomas Christian churches|church]] to [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas the Apostle]].

In 1523, the Portuguese missionary Diego Fernandes built a small [[Oratory (worship)|oratory]] on the Mount, reportedly over the foundations of an earlier church. As the number of pilgrims grew, [[Gaspar Coelho]], the Vicar of the Church of Mylapore, laid the foundation for a larger church in 1547 and dedicated it to ''Our Lady of the Mount''. The church is believed to have served as a lighthouse for Portuguese and Armenian ships during the 16th century.

The altar of this shrine was built on the spot where St. Thomas' death is traditionally believed to have occurred. At the northern foot of the mount is a gateway of four impressive arches surmounted by a cross bearing the inscribed date 1547. A flight of 160 steps leads up to the summit of the mount. The steps leading up the hill were donated by the famous Armenian [[Coja Petrus Uscan]]. There are 14 [[Stations of the Cross]] on the way to the summit.

The 500th anniversary of the church was celebrated in November 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Liffy |title=St. Thomas Mount National Shrine: 500 years on a hillock |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/st-thomas-mount-national-shrine-500-years-on-a-hillock/article67576002.ece |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=26 November 2023 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Pope John Paul II visited the place on February 5, 1986. The shrine was elevated to the status of a minor basilica on 3 July 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Service |first1=RVA Tamil News |title=Historic St. Thomas Shrine in South India Elevated to Minor Basilica |url=https://www.rvasia.org/asian-news/historic-st-thomas-shrine-south-india-elevated-minor-basilica#:~:text=Historic%20St.-,Thomas%20Shrine%20in%20South%20India%20Elevated%20to%20Minor%20Basilica,as%20the%20date%20of%20St. |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=RVA |date=9 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The church is home to the Bleeding Cross of St. Thomas - a relic venerated as having been carved by the Apostle himself. Tradition holds that this Cross miraculously oozed blood on December 18th, the date commemorated as the martyrdom of St. Thomas, for 150 consecutive years.<ref>{{cite news |title=St. Thomas Mount Shrine, Chennai, Elevated as Minor Basilica |url=https://cc.pacifyca.com/news/st-thomas-mount-shrine-chennai-elevated-as-minor-basilica |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=Catholic Connnect |language=en}}</ref>

There are other chapels on the Mount, including:
* Chapel of Our Lady of Expectations, patroness of the shrine.
* Chapel of St. Thomas, now called the Sanctuary of the Apostle.
* Eucharistic Chapel

== Gallery ==
=== Exterior of the church ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120px">
File:Evangelical Entrance Thomas Mount Church Chennai Aug22 R16 06223.jpg|Entrance to the shrine
File:Side St Thomas Mount Church Chennai Aug22 A7C 02292.jpg|St. Thomas Church on the Mount
File:Bell Tower Station XIV Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02255.jpg|Bell tower
File:North Facade Adoration Chapel Thomas Mount Aug22 A7C 02286.jpg|Blessed Sacrament Adoration Chapel
File:Statue Mary Untier Knots Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02267.jpg|Mary Untier of Knots
File:St Thomas Mount2.JPG|Flagstaff
File:Statue Mother Teresa Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02284.jpg|Mother Teresa
</gallery>

=== Interior of the church ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120px">
File:Interior Nave Thomas Church Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02257.jpg|Nave
File:ST. THOMAS MT. - panoramio (8).jpg|Altar
File:Relic 8 Apostle Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02260.jpg|Relic of an apostle
File:Statue Thomas Infant Jesus Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02264.jpg|Saint Anthony and infant Jesus
File:Gravestone Anna St Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 R16 06221.jpg|Gravestone in the entrance
</gallery>

=== Stations of the Cross ===
The 14 [[:en:Way of the Cross|Stations of the Cross]] are positioned along the 160-step climb up the Mount.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120px">
File:Statue of jesus at st.Thomas mount church, chennai 3.JPG|3: Jesus falls for the first time.
File:Statue of jesus at st.Thomas mount church, chennai 5.JPG|5: Simon helps carry the cross.
File:Statue of jesus at st.Thomas mount church, chennai.JPG|10: Jesus is stripped of his garments.
File:Station Cross XIII Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 A7C 02282.jpg|13: Jesus is taken down from the cross.
File:Station Cross XIV Thomas Mount Chennai Aug22 R16 06211.jpg|14: Jesus is laid in the tomb.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Basilicas in India}}

[[Category:Basilica churches in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in Chennai]]

St. Thomas Mount National Shrine Basilica - Revision history

King42 at 17:19, 5 January 2026