Santhome, situated about four miles south of Chennai, or the old city of Madras, forms a part of that historic city. During the medieval period, this region was known as Beth Thuma. Arab travellers who visited the city were the ones who gave this name to the place. Their travel accounts indicate that the region was called by this name in the sense of “the place of Thomas.” They also wrote in their works about the Mar Thoma Christians who lived in the city. When the Portuguese arrived there at the beginning of the sixteenth century, they called the city “Santhome.” Thus, “Santhome” (St. Thomas) is the Portuguese form of Beth Thuma. It was because they found the tomb of St. Thomas there that the Portuguese unhesitatingly called the city Santhome. The tomb of a great personage is what made this city famous. Therefore, the very fact that the tomb of St. Thomas was located there brought this city great fame in Europe in earlier centuries. The long list of European travellers who visited the city confirms this fact.
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in India at the dawn of the modern period, numerous travellers, pilgrims, and visitors from Arabia, Syria, Persia, and the Mediterranean regions had already visited Mylapore, as recorded in their travel narratives. Hence, contrary to certain accusations, the tomb of St. Thomas at Mylapore is neither a Portuguese invention nor a fabrication created by the Portuguese, but a historical reality. It is a historical truth that cannot be denied and can be verified through historical evidence. Just as the tombs of the other eleven Apostles are located in different parts of the world, the tomb of St. Thomas is situated at Mylapore in India. No one anywhere else in the world claims to possess the tomb of St. Thomas. Moreover, there exists no possibility whatsoever for such a claim.
Until the recent adoption of the name Chennai, this city was known as Madras. The name Madras emerged during the English colonial period. Today, Mylapore forms part of the city of Madras and may rightly be considered its ancient quarter. The origin of the name “Madras” is connected with a Christian monastery that existed in the city. The Syriac word for monastery or monastic house is Madrasa (Madrasta), while the Arabic term is Madrasa. Early English records use the term Madrast. Gradually, this evolved into “Madras.” It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the renowned monastery at Mylapore gave the city its name. Certain records left by foreign travellers who visited Mylapore also mention a monastery associated with the memory of St. Thomas the Apostle, lending further support to this view.
In the accounts describing the death of the Apostle, we read that his disciples carried the body of Thomas to the monastery situated by the seashore below (the site where the Basilica now stands) and buried him there. It was the ministry, martyrdom, and tomb of St. Thomas at Mylapore that gave the place the name Beth Thuma, which later evolved into Santhome. Thus, the connection between Mylapore, Madras, and Chennai becomes evident.
Rev. Dr. James Puliurumpil
