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Basilica · India

San Thome Basilica and Traditional Tomb of St. Thomas

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

BasilicaApostolic TraditionLiving Catholic ChurchTraditional TombCatholic India collectionwhere-saints-rest collectiontombs-of-the-apostles collectionCatholic India: Apostles, Saints & Living Churches collectionTombs of the Apostles & Evangelists collectionWhere Saints Rest collectionCatholicActive Catholic minor basilica and national shrine; the tomb is presented according to longstanding Church tradition with archaeological certainty carefully qualified.

Why pilgrims come

Discover what makes San Thome Basilica and Traditional Tomb of St. Thomas a place of pilgrimage

A major Indian Catholic basilica built over the place long venerated as the burial site of St. Thomas the Apostle. The apostolic association is an ancient ecclesiastical tradition, not a modern archaeological identification of complete certainty.

Pray at one of Christianity’s three great apostolic-tomb traditions and encounter the living Indian Church that traces its memory to St. Thomas.

Primary sacred connectionSt. Thomas the Apostletraditional burial site and principal apostolic patron
Research trail2 catalog sourcesLast 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 burial site and principal apostolic patron

Feast: July 3
Sacred objectTraditional tomb associated with St. Thomas the Apostle at Chennai

Apostolic tomb tradition · Venerated by ancient ecclesiastical tradition; not presented as archaeologically conclusive

Crypt access can be limited during liturgy.

What to notice

Look closely at the place and its story

01

The apostolic tomb tradition

Descend to the prayer space associated for centuries with St. Thomas.

02

India’s ancient Christian memory

Place the basilica within the history of the St. Thomas Christian communities.

Feasts, anniversaries & celebrations

Feast of St. Thomas the ApostleConnected to this place through traditional burial site and principal apostolic patron.

How to read this page

Sources, tradition, and what is verified

Source trail2 cited catalog sources

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.