Ancient Santhome Cathedral in Chennai Renovated, Dedicated to Nation

Chennai – The newly renovated Santhome Cathedral in Chennai, one of the oldest basilicas in India and the world’s second basilica built on an apostle’s tomb, was thrown open to the public in a solemn Eucharistic ceremony and dedicated to the nation.

The world has only two basilicas built over tombs of the apostles of Jesus Christ, namely, St. Peter, the leaders of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, in Rome and St. Thomas in Chennai. St Thomas is believed to have come to southern India, after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Hundreds of Catholics and others gathered at the world’s second basilica built on an apostle’s tomb to seek blessings and took part in the high mass presided over by Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Apostolic Nuncio to India on December 12, 2004.

“Like St Thomas, we too should open our hearts and minds in loving dialogue with our fellow brethren, whatever religion or group they may belong to”, Archbishop Quintana said after blessing the refurbished basilica.

The papal representative in India said that the cathedral stood testimony to almost 2,000 years of faith, and nourishment from the Word of God.

“The cathedral would also be an occasion for taking up the evangelical mission with fresh enthusiasm, for a fresh blossoming of holiness "in your personal lives and in your church, for a profound and comprehensive spiritual renewal,” he said.

While Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Pius, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Madras–Mylapore inaugurated the museum in the cathedral complex, Cardinal Ivan Dias of Bombay, India’s largest archdiocese, blessed the mini–auditorium.

The church officials said a church was built over the tomb of St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, who was buried there after his death in the year A.D. 72. Over the past two millennia, many churches were constructed on the same site, but stormy weather and sea erosion had destroyed them.

The renovation work on the 108–year–old Gothic structure had been on for nearly two years. It cost around Rs 3 crore. Along with a mini auditorium, a new underground chapel with an entrance outside the church was also inaugurated.

This underground chapel holds the saint’s tomb and a museum. Two air–conditioned passages lead to the chapel. The earlier entry to the tomb was from the main altar of the basilica. Steps led people down to the tomb. Now, the new passages are from the basement of the museum built at the back of the basilica.

Retaining all the old structures in the church auditorium, the renovators have given it a fresh look. The wooden paneling on the roof of the church that had been completely damaged over time has also been aesthetically restored.

“The wood paneling was about 22 feet long. We had to remove almost three feet of wood that had rotted and plaster it. The rest have been left untouched,'' said R Manivannan, manager of Ravi Gundu Rao and Associates who had undertaken the renovation project that was awarded to Larsen and Tourbo company.

The basilica under which St. Thomas's body was buried had also started to rot due to excessive water seepage. To stop the wooden paneling and the tiles from being further destroyed by water seepage, aluminium sheeting have been placed under the roof tiles.

The water that enters the roof will now be flushed out through a channel in the aluminium sheets.

Seated in a throne, wearing long–sleeved robes, the statue of the patroness of the diocese, popularly known as Lady of Mylapore, has also been given a new look.

The broken stained glasses that have been there in the church for more than a century has also been renovated and parts where the paint had faded were re–worked without changing the old glass.

The annual festival culminating in the annual feast of “Our Lady of Mylapore” was also held along with the consecration. This is the 459th year of the festival and the 49th year of crowning of Our Lady.