San Thome Basilica, a Gothic-style architectural marvel, is the Basilica over the tomb of Saint Thomas, an apostle of Jesus Christ, at Mylapore, on Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.  The picture on the left side, where Saint Thomas is praying, and his enemy has an arrow behind him, is where Saint Thomas’s tomb lies. There are only three churches worldwide over the tomb of Jesus Christ’s apostles. Other than San Thome Basilica, the other two basilicas are the Basilica in Rome, built over the tomb of St.Peter, and the Cathedral in Spain, built over the tomb of St. James.

Martyrdom scene of Apostle St.Thomas at underground tomb chapel.

Santhome Church at Chennai was declared a national shrine and is a major pilgrimage center for Christians in India.

Saint Thomas is believed to have landed at Kodungallur in Kerala state, India, in A.D 52.   After staying at the Malayattoor Church area and some other places in Kerala, St. Thomas landed in Chennai.

Santhome Cathedral Chennai has a museum on the ground floor at the back of the church, above the tomb of Saint Thomas (you have to take the steps inside the museum to go down to visit the tomb, which might have gone underground due to sands accumulating at the shore over the years),  which has a good collection of ancient historical pieces related to saint Thomas era.

Saint Thomas was killed by enemies at Saint Thomas Mount. The Portuguese built a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Expectation (Mother Mary) in the 15th Century on top of the hill.  Pope John Paul II addressed a massive gathering of people at this site when he visited India in 1986, near the Kathipaarai Junction on Mount Road in Guindy, Chennai, near the Chennai International Airport.

How do I Go to Santhome Church?

Santhome Basilica is on the Marina Beach front at Mylapore in the city’s heart. You can go to San Thome Basilica by booking a cab from any railway station or the airport in Chennai.