New Delhi: The Feast of Dukhrana, commemorating the martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle, became an occasion of immense joy for the Indian Church as the National Shrine at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai was officially elevated to the prestigious rank of Minor Basilica by the Holy See. This rare distinction honors the profound legacy of the Apostle who brought Christianity to India nearly two millennia ago and gave his life on its soil.
The announcement came on July 3, turning the annual celebration into a moment of historic significance. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, led the liturgical celebration as the special envoy of Pope Leo XIV, joined by Cardinals Oswald Gracias and Anthony Poola, along with Archbishop George Antonysamy, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI).
Set within the Chingleput Diocese, the St. Thomas Mount Shrine has long been a revered place of pilgrimage, believed to be the site of the Apostle’s martyrdom. The solemn proclamation ceremony drew thousands of pilgrims, clergy, religious, and lay leaders, transforming the mount into a sea of devotion and joy.
The official Latin decree declaring the elevation was first read in English by Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore, who also serves as President of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council. The Tamil version was read by Bishop Neethinathan. In a deeply symbolic gesture, the Apostolic Nuncio then handed over the papal decree to the diocesan bishop, marking the shrine’s formal inclusion among the global family of Minor Basilicas.
The recognition as a Minor Basilica affirms not only the shrine’s spiritual significance but also celebrates India’s apostolic heritage, rooted in the mission of St. Thomas. For the Indian Church, this milestone is both a source of national pride and a reminder of its deep and unbroken Christian witness, stretching back to the earliest centuries of the faith.