St .Thomas mount

St.Thomas mount - Parangimalai

     Did you know there is an amazing ancient place named St. Thomas Mount is located nearer to Guindy, Chennai(the capital of Tamil Nadu)?  Won't you be wondered to know that the Portuguese, who was so called first Christians to enter India has built a holy shrine and marked the hill with divinity of "Mother Mary" in 1523? It is considered to be one of the greatest ancient historical place names in Southern India.  It is notable that the brilliance of British government chose this place for the purpose of measuring mount Himalayas from here!

Ancient history of St. Thomas bone fragment preserved -

     Astounding! A place unknown to many.  The story of origin of the holy mount, St. Thomas, had filled the pages in the oldest history of India. History tells us that the British who made the picture up to the Indian geology, took the measurement of Himalayas from this mountain.

     When Thomas came here, he brought St. Mary's portrait of Mary. This painting was painted by St. Luke, one of the four traditionally accredited authors of the canonical Gospels at that time.  It is told that St. Thomas prayed on this mountain, 300 feet above sea level. One of the works he carved in his home town is still alive and well today.Historians who have studied this have suggested that AD. They are certified as the oldest painting of the 50's.  In 1559, King Chandragiri offered to bring this sacred painting to his palace. There is a note that says he worshiped it in the Pallak and once after worshiping, he had sent it back to a Tirth.

     The Christian dignitaries believe that one of the twelve(12) disciples of Jesus, Thomas, came to Kerala via Santhome and then moved to Saidapet, where he is believed to be killed by some enemies while he was praying to Jesus.

     The Christian hideout says that he witnessed the massacre of st. Thomas and found the blood bank scattered in the granite, later on which the Church was built.  AD Marcopoulos writes in his travels that a hunter who came to the railroad in 72 drew Thomas with his spear.

     After the arrival of  Vasco Da Gama through the seaway to India, the fame of the Portuguese began to rise on the Indian land. Thereafter, around AD. The Parangimalai Church was erected in 1523 AD. Here are some of St. Thomas' blood sweat drops. The legend says that it was finally seen in 1704.

     It is stated that Pope John Paul II visited in 1986. In 2011, our Government of India declared it as a National Amendment.  Finally Thomas' Day was decided to be celebrated on December 18, 1955 in Delhi and happened so. Speaking on the occasion, former President Dr. Rajendra Prasad said, “He(st. Thomas) came to the Indian coast before the emergence of many Christian nations. Indian Christians who originated their Christian tradition are older than European Christians".

     Mount Road is the name given by the English to Anna Road which connects Chennai. The English called Mount Road to go from St. George's Fort to Parangimalai. It was just a one-way road for the day which is serving today as a Highway. The holy shrine was donated by the wealthy Armenian people who lived there to pray the Lord Jesus on the mountain.  In 1726, the bridge was built at its own expense by the Medruz Ulkan. The bridge is being famously called as Marmalong bridge. He has also extended his hands to lend money for the construction of 135 steps to go to this hill.

Speciality of Prayer in St. Thomas

     The church is worshiped with a thumbnail bone of St. Thomas. 124 sacred relics of saints are on display. The first disciple of Jesus, St. Peter (iraper), has a series of 14 oldest pictures. The films are nearly 300 years old.

When Jesus announced his intention to return to Judea in order to see Lazarus, Thomas told the other disciples, “We too will go. Maybe we can all be killed. ” Therefore, Christian men are glorified as their influence.

     In short, according to the biblical scriptures, Thomas is a little realist. Biblical references say that he is wise to accept anything after he has learned and learned. We asked Father Father Raju Rajud to share in the highlights of this church.

     “St. Thomas came to this hill in the 52nd century. Previously she spent some time in Little Mountain. From there he comes to the mountain daily to pray. It is said that the enemy killed those who prayed one day. The church was built by the Portuguese in its 12th century. They named it the Temple of the Lord.

     The festival is celebrated on the 18th day of December, before the 25th of December. It is celebrated as the birth of the Mother of God, the birth of Jesus. There is a special service on the 18th of each month.

St Thomas history