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Shrine · India

National Shrine of St. Thomas Mount

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ShrineApostolic TraditionHilltop ShrineMartyr TraditionCatholic India collectionHoly Mountains collectionCatholic India: Apostles, Saints & Living Churches collectionCatholicActive Catholic national shrine and minor basilica; martyrdom claims are labeled as received apostolic tradition.

Why pilgrims come

Discover what makes National Shrine of St. Thomas Mount a place of pilgrimage

The hilltop shrine marks the traditional place of St. Thomas the Apostle’s martyrdom and preserves a long pilgrimage history. Its core significance is ecclesiastical tradition and continuing devotion rather than an uncontested archaeological reconstruction.

Climb the historic mount to pray where Indian Christian tradition remembers the martyrdom of St. Thomas and to see the old Portuguese-era church.

Primary sacred connectionSt. Thomas the Apostletraditional place of martyrdom
Research trail1 catalog sourceLast checked Sep 7, 2026
Pilgrim planningConfirm before travelingWorship times and access can change
TraditionCatholic

The sacred connection

People and objects remembered here

These relationships are part of the destination record, with feast days and catalog qualifications shown where available.

SaintSt. Thomas the Apostle

traditional place of martyrdom

Feast: July 3

What to notice

Look closely at the place and its story

01

The martyrdom tradition

Pray where the Church in India remembers the apostle’s final witness.

02

A layered Christian hill

Read the shrine through ancient memory, Portuguese rebuilding, and modern pilgrimage.

Feasts, anniversaries & celebrations

Feast of St. Thomas the ApostleConnected to this place through traditional place of martyrdom.

How to read this page

Sources, tradition, and what is verified

Source trail1 cited catalog source

The destination record was last checked on 9/7/2026.

Editorial standard

This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.