St. Thomas Mount

St. Thomas Mount is a small hillock located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Located near the neighborhood of Guindy and close to the airfield in Chennai, St. Thomas Mount is associated with St. Thomas, the apostle of Christ, who is falsely believed to have been martyred here. The mount is commonly called in Tamil (Tamil language) "Parangi Malai", Belief claims 2000 years back a saint 'Parangi' 'Peeringi' munivar who lived here. Over period of time Anglo Indians predominated in this areas. A small relic-filled Church built in 1523 by the Portuguese stands at the summit of the 300 foot high St. Thomas Mount. The place was visited by Pope John Paul II during his visit to India on 5 February 1986. The Indian Army operates an Officers training Academy (OTA) on the mount. The South line of the Chennai suburban railway has a station named after St. Thomas Mount here.

According to popular myth, St. Thomas was one of the first Christians to reach India and to preach Christianity. He is believed to have reached South India in AD 52, and spent the last years of his life in a cave on this hill. Christian mythology claims that Thomas was assassinated by a shot of an arrow in AD 72, by persons hostile to him. Thus, the hillock acquired the name St. Thomas Mount.

A shrine dedicated to "Our Lady of Expectation" (Mother Mary was built in 1523 on top of the mount. It is believed that the altar of this shrine was built on the spot where St. Thomas was allegedly martyred in A D 72. At the northern foot of the Mount is a gateway of four impressive arches surmounted by a cross bearing the inscribed date 1547. A flight of 160 steps leads up to the summit of the Mount. There are fourteen stations of the cross erected on the way to the summit.

The Baptismal Font (pictured) which existed at the Church on the St. Thomas Mount in 1680 has a rich history. This Font was shifted to the St. Mary's Church at Fort St. George in 1685. A plaque behind the Font explains history of the Font and the famous people who were Baptised here.

Charnockite rocks are found on the St Thomas Mount and a Geological Monument named as Charnockite, St. Thomas Mount has been installed by the Geological Survey of India at the entrance to the Mount.