Santhome Church
| San Thome Basilica | |
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| Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas | |
San Thome Basilica
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 San Thome Basilica
Location within Chennai
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| 13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°ECoordinates: 13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°E | |
| Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) |
| Website | www.santhomechurch.com |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | San Thome Church |
| Authorising papal bull | 16 March 1956 |
| Dedication | St. Thomas |
| Relics held | Bone of St. Thomas |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Minor Basilica |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Shrine |
| Designated | 7 February 2006 |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
| Completed | 1523 (Current building 1896) |
| 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. George Antonysamy |
San Thome Basilica (Tamil: சாந்தோம் பசிலிக்கா, Cān-Tōm Pacilikkā; Portuguese: Basílica de São Tomé) 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, over the tomb of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the status of a cathedral by the British. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century. This church is one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus, the other two being St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain.
St Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, arrived at Muziris in present-day Kerala state in India from the Roman province of Judea in A.D. 52 and preached between A.D. 52 and A.D 72, when he was martyred on St. Thomas Mount.
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