The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Place of pilgrimage offers magnificent view of Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 08, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Place of pilgrimage offers magnificent view of Chennai

Swahilya

Church has a bone piece of St. Thomas and the `Bleeding Cross' Church has a piece of the saint's bone, and the `Bleeding Cross' believed to have been carved by St. Thomas and stained with his blood when he was martyred

RESTFUL RETREAT: A view of St. Thomas Mount. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: The magnificent view one gets of Chennai is worth the perspiring climb up the ramp stairway or the flight of 135 steps. But, one can also drive to the top comfortably. It's a rewarding exercise to just stand listening to the rustle of the banyan tree or feel the brush of the gentle breeze around the Church of Our Lady of Expectations, built by the Portugese in 1523 A.D, on top of the hill.

Here, one can breathe in the history of Chennai. No wonder then that it draws tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.

Also known as the `Calvary of Saint Thomas', this hillock — the place of martyrdom of one of the apostles of Jesus Christ — is 300 feet above sea level.

"Tourists look at the guidebook and come here straight from the airport. People of all faiths come here from as far as the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, Korea and even Muslim countries," says Gilbert, who works in a store near the shrine atop the hill.

The historical spot contains a bone piece of St. Thomas, the `Bleeding Cross', believed to have been carved by St. Thomas and stained with his blood when he was martyred.

The cross was discovered in the 16th century when the foundation of the church was being dug.

The `Miraculous Madonna of Our Lady', painted by St. Luke the Evangelist and brought by St. Thomas, can also be seen in the shrine. The four ancient paintings of Christ and St. Paul and the 12 apostles with a statue of Our Lady of Expectation also adorn the walls of the church.

The church is now being renovated. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel within the existing structure and an open-air stage for worship, residential quarters for priests, and a museum are being constructed.

The history of St. Thomas, who came to India through the Malabar Coast from Palestine in 52 A.D., time spent in Mylapore, Little Mount and St. Thomas Mount in 66 A.D. when he was `pierced by a lance to death in 72 A.D.' are recorded on boards kept at the church, built by Father Gasper Coelho, a Portugese, on March 23, 1547.

The celebration of the Feast of St. Thomas concluded on July 3, notes a member of the parish, who adds that it is a holy hill.

It is one of the few spots in Chennai from where one can see planes take off and land at the Meenambakkam airport, and get a grand view of Chennai.

St. Thomas Mount is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all days with a parking fee of Rs.5 for cars and Rs.2 for two-wheelers on the roof of Chennai city.

The road was used for conducting cross-country hill races till some two decades ago when the practice was stopped.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu