Chennai, Tamil Nadu – India
Coordinates: 13.033611, 80.277778
Saint Thomas رضي الله عنه, was one of the Twelve disciples of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام according to the New Testament.
According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala.
According to their tradition, Saint Thomas رضي الله عنه reached Muziris (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in the state of Kerala, India) in CE 52.
Saint Thomas Church, also known as St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India.
It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of Saint Thomas رضي الله عنه, one of the twelve disciples of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام.
In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the status of a cathedral by the British.
In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Ortona, in Abruzzo, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas.
He is often regarded as the patron saint of India, and the name Thomas remains quite popular among Saint Thomas Christians of India.
This church is one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an disciple of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام, the other two being St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, Spain.
In Islam
The Qur’anic account of the disciples of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام does not include their names, numbers, or any detailed accounts of their lives.
Muslim Scholars, however, more or less agrees with the New Testament list and says that the disciples included Hz. Sam’un رضي الله عنه (Saint Peter), Saint Philip رضي الله عنه, Saint Thomas رضي الله عنه, Saint Bartholomew رضي الله عنه, Saint Matthew رضي الله عنه, Saint Andrew رضي الله عنه, Saint James رضي الله عنه, Saint Jude رضي الله عنه, Saint John رضي الله عنه and Saint Simon the Zealot رضي الله عنه
Note: Some of the information in this article comes from Christians sources.
Sites related to Christian traditions on this website are for information purpose only.
It is recommended not to visit these sites as a Muslim because, first the sources of these places comes from the christian sources which is dubious in some cases.
And most of the christian sites are decorated with frescos, paintings & things that go against the teachings of Islam.
