SANTHOME CHURCH

Santhome CHURCH, at the southern end of Marina derives its name from St. Thomas, an apostle of Jesus Christ who is believed to have come to Chennai sometime during 52 AD. He was believed to have been killed on St. Thomas Mount just outside the city in 78 AD and was interned in Santhome beach where a church was later built. Serveral years after, another church was built further inland and his mortal remains were transferred from the former to the later. In 1606 the Church was re-built as a Cathedral and in 1896 it was made a Basilica. The beautiful tainted glass windows at the basilica portray the story of St. Thomas and the Central Hall has 14 wooden plaques depicting scenes of

the last days of Christ. In the Cathedral is a 3 feet high statue of the Virgin Mary which is believed to have been brought from Portugal in 1543.