The Tomb of St. Thomas

Thomas, or Judas Thomas Didymus, was one of the twelve Apostles of Christ.  He is more affectionately referred to as Doubting Thomas.  While he has little mention in the three synoptic Gospels, he is mentioned several times in the Gospel of John.  By John’s account, Thomas plays an important role in the resurrection story of Jesus.  As you may recall, in Jesus first resurrection appearance to his disciples, Thomas is not present and doubts the validity of the other disciples’ witness. In a later appearance, Jesus has Thomas touch the wounds Jesus endured.  Thomas professes his faith from this physical encounter.  From this lesson, Jesus once again teaches us in John 20:29

 

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

This encounter with the risen Lord by Thomas is depicted in this painting by Caravaggio.

 

 

After the Death and Resurrection of Christ, Thomas became acquainted with Habban, a merchant from India. Habban used to visit Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria and other countries in the Middle East on his master, King Gondophare's business. It was in the company of this merchant that Thomas made the trip from Palestine, via the Island of Socotra, and, in 52 A.D., landed at Cranganore on the Malabar Coast of present-day Kerala. It is in this area, where the present day city of Chennai, Thomas settled to spread the Gospel.

 

Chennai, or Madras when under British rule, is located on the southeast coast of India on the Bay of Bengal on what is referred to as the Coriander Coast.  It is and has been a major trade route for centuries.  The city is the capital of the Tamil Nadu Pradesh (or state).  Chennai is the 4^th largest city in India and one of the 35 largest cities in the world with a population of 7.5 million.

 

 

Saint Thomas settled in this area and preached the Gospel from 52 A.D. to about 72 A.D.  Further legend has it that Thomas built a church on the site where he had performed a miracle.  A large log was mired in the mud on the edge of the water.  Not even elephants could move it.  Thomas purportedly moved the log using only his girdle.  The king of Mylapore was so taken by the act, that he donated the log to Thomas with which he built his first church.

 

Legend has it that he was reportedly killed by hunter (a story attributed to Marco Polo who visited the area) or by Hindu kings, whom Thomas offended.

 

The Portuguese moved the church in the 16^th century to its present day location.  The cathedral has been rebuilt several times.  The current cathedral was built by the British and blessed in 1896.  It was conferred the status of minor basilica in 1956 by Pope Pius XII.

 

It is characterized as one of only two churches in the world in which an Apostle of Christ is buried.  St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is the other.