Saint Thomas: St. Thomas Basilica

 

Life and Martyrdom

• c. 5 AD – 30 AD: Thomas, often called “Doubting Thomas” for initially questioning Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:24–29), was born in Galilee and worked as a carpenter or fisherman before becoming one of the twelve apostles. His skepticism turned to fervent faith after touching Jesus’ wounds, famously declaring, “My Lord and my God!” He was present at key moments like the Last Supper and Pentecost.
• 30–72 AD: After Pentecost, Thomas embarked on an extraordinary missionary journey. Early Christian traditions, including the 3rd-century Acts of Thomas (an apocryphal text), claim he traveled east, preaching in Parthia (modern-day Iran), Persia, and eventually India. He arrived on the Malabar Coast of southwest India around 52 AD, converting local communities and establishing churches, particularly among Jewish settlers and indigenous people. His mission later took him to the Coromandel Coast in southeast India, near modern-day Chennai. Around 72 AD, tradition states Thomas was martyred at Mylapore, speared by soldiers or priests angered by his conversions—possibly under orders from a local king or Brahmin leaders opposed to his influence.

Burial and Tomb Development

• c. 72 AD: After his martyrdom on a hill now called St. Thomas Mount, Thomas’ followers buried him nearby in Mylapore, in a simple tomb overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The site became a place of veneration for India’s early Christians, known as St. Thomas Christians or Nasranis.
• 2nd–3rd Centuries: The tomb remained a pilgrimage site, with the Acts of Thomas describing it as a place of miracles. Local tradition holds that it was marked by a stone cross, possibly carved by Thomas himself.
• c. 4th Century: A small church was likely built over the tomb, though evidence is scarce due to the region’s isolation from Western Christianity at the time.
• 1258 AD: Marco Polo, visiting Mylapore, recorded the tomb’s existence, noting pilgrims taking earth from it for its supposed healing properties, suggesting its enduring significance.
• 1523 AD: Portuguese explorers, led by Captain João da Cruz, rediscovered the tomb while establishing a trading post in Mylapore. They found a ruined chapel and skeletal remains, which they identified as Thomas’. A new church was constructed over the site, incorporating the tomb into its crypt.
• 1547 AD: The Portuguese expanded the church, but it was damaged by floods and neglect over time.
• 1893–1896 AD: The current St. Thomas Basilica (San Thome Basilica) was built by the British in neo-Gothic style, consecrated in 1896. The tomb was preserved in a subterranean crypt, accessible to visitors, with some bone fragments (including a finger bone) displayed in a reliquary.
• 1956 AD: Pope Pius XII declared the basilica a minor basilica, affirming its importance. A portion of Thomas’ relics had been sent to Edessa (modern-day Turkey) in antiquity and later to Ortona, Italy (in 1258), but the Mylapore tomb retained its primacy.

Timeline

• c. 5 AD: Thomas is born in Galilee.
• c. 30 AD: Called as an apostle; active in Jesus’ ministry until the crucifixion.
• 30–52 AD: Preaches in Parthia and Persia, arriving in India’s Malabar Coast around 52 AD.
• 52–72 AD: Evangelizes in southern India, focusing on Mylapore.
• c. 72 AD: Martyred by spearing on St. Thomas Mount; buried in Mylapore.
• 2nd–3rd Centuries: Tomb venerated by St. Thomas Christians, possibly marked with a cross.
• c. 4th Century: Early church built over the tomb.
• 1258 AD: Marco Polo documents the tomb’s pilgrimage status.
• 1523 AD: Portuguese rediscover and rebuild over the tomb.
• 1547 AD: Church expanded by Portuguese settlers.
• 1893–1896 AD: St. Thomas Basilica constructed, preserving the tomb in its crypt.
• 1956 AD: Elevated to minor basilica status by Pope Pius XII.

Current Status

The St. Thomas Basilica in Chennai stands as a striking white neo-Gothic structure, its crypt housing what is believed to be Thomas’ tomb. The site contains a small collection of relics—bone fragments, including a finger bone—displayed in a glass case, though most of his remains were likely lost or dispersed over time. A separate relic, a lance tip said to have killed him, is kept at St. Thomas Mount, 8 kilometers away, where a church marks his martyrdom.

The tomb’s authenticity rests on a blend of tradition and circumstantial evidence. The Acts of Thomas and early Syriac Christian records support his presence in India, while Marco Polo’s account and the continuity of local veneration bolster the claim. Archaeological finds, such as a 1st-century cross near Mylapore, align with the timeline, though no definitive proof ties the current remains to Thomas. The division of his relics—some taken to Edessa (now in Ortona, Italy)—complicates the narrative, but the Mylapore tomb remains the primary site.

Today, the basilica is a vibrant pilgrimage destination, drawing Christians worldwide, especially from India’s St. Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to his ministry. Its coastal location, framed by Chennai’s skyline, adds to its serene yet profound atmosphere, honoring Thomas’ remarkable journey from doubt to martyrdom across continents.

. 

Related Post

RELICS

• Saint Paul: Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
• Saint Matthias
• Judas Iscariot: No Recognized Tomb
• Saint Simon the Zealot: St. Peter’s Basilica
• Saint Jude (Thaddeus): St. Peter’s Basilica
• Saint James the Less: Basilica of the Holy Apostles
• The Holy Tunic of Argenteuil
• The "Holy Face of Jesus"
• The Holy Sepulchre
• Holy Blood of Christ
• Holy Tunic (Seamless Robe of Jesus)
• Holy Sponge
• Veil of Veronica
• True Cross
• Titulus Crucis
• Holy Chalice (Holy Grail)
• Holy Lance (Spear of Destiny)
• Crown of Thorns
• The Shroud of Turin
• Types of Relics
• Where Are the 12 Apostles Now?
• WHY DO WE VENERATE RELICS ?
• The Relics