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Santhome Church

San Thome Basilica
Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas
Santhome Basilica.jpg
San Thome Basilica
San Thome Basilica is located in Chennai
San Thome Basilica
San Thome Basilica
Location within Chennai
13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°E / 13.03361; 80.27778Coordinates: 13°2′1″N 80°16′40″E / 13.03361°N 80.27778°E / 13.03361; 80.27778
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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