LITTLE MOUNT CHENNAI
[Family Visit to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Convent, Chennai St. Thomas Mount mylapur on 26th February,2011. The Family team includes Prof John Kurakar, Prof.Molly Kurakar, Mr George Jacob & Mrs Annie George Jacob. The team participated the family meet at the convent. Sr Tresa George & Sr Stella and other inmates gave a warm reception.
Little Mount has great historical significance even during the first century as St Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles, preached and prayed on this Mount in 68 A. D. Before the Portuguese held sway in the 16th century over this part of the country, the early Rajas and Nawabs of the place were sympathetic protectors of this Holy Shrine. In 1551 some improvements were made in Little Mount, which was till then only a steep rocky hill, for the convenience of the pilgrims. This fact is inscribed on a big stone which has been fixed at the top of the steps towards the North of the Hill. The church of Our Lady was built and given to the Portuguese Jesuits. On the occasion of the 19th Century celebrations of St Thomas in 1972, a large Church was built and consecrated for the benefit of the increasing parishioners and pilgrims. The cave and the miraculous spring are the two main monuments of Little Mount. The spring is called St Thomas Fountain. The Holy Apostle, who lived at Little Mount, was moved to see that the people, who came to hear his preaching, suffered from thirst. He knelt in prayer and struck the rock with his stick and instantly there gushed forth a spring of water. It is believed that St Thomas often retired to this solitary cave on the hill for meditations and prayers.
[Family Visit to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Convent, Chennai St. Thomas Mount mylapur on 26th February,2011. The Family team includes Prof John Kurakar, Prof.Molly Kurakar, Mr George Jacob & Mrs Annie George Jacob. The team participated the family meet at the convent. Sr Tresa George & Sr Stella and other inmates gave a warm reception.
Little Mount has great historical significance even during the first century as St Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles, preached and prayed on this Mount in 68 A. D. Before the Portuguese held sway in the 16th century over this part of the country, the early Rajas and Nawabs of the place were sympathetic protectors of this Holy Shrine. In 1551 some improvements were made in Little Mount, which was till then only a steep rocky hill, for the convenience of the pilgrims. This fact is inscribed on a big stone which has been fixed at the top of the steps towards the North of the Hill. The church of Our Lady was built and given to the Portuguese Jesuits. On the occasion of the 19th Century celebrations of St Thomas in 1972, a large Church was built and consecrated for the benefit of the increasing parishioners and pilgrims. The cave and the miraculous spring are the two main monuments of Little Mount. The spring is called St Thomas Fountain. The Holy Apostle, who lived at Little Mount, was moved to see that the people, who came to hear his preaching, suffered from thirst. He knelt in prayer and struck the rock with his stick and instantly there gushed forth a spring of water. It is believed that St Thomas often retired to this solitary cave on the hill for meditations and prayers. The cave is about 16 ft in length and about 15 ft. in breadth and not more than 7 ft. in height. A crevice about 5/2 ft. with two or three crude steps opens down into the cave and makes a very good hiding place.
St. Thomas Spring
St. Thomas Spring in little mount There is a spring on the rock behind the Church, called the perpetual spring of the saint. It is traditionally held, recorded only in 1765 AD by Fr. G. Tachard S.J "people who come in crowds to hear him preaching suffered much from thirst. The saint knelt down in prayer and struck the rock with his stick, and there formed an instant spring to quench the thirst of people." On south, almost opposite to the entrance, a sort of window(2.5 ft long) throws a dim light in to the cave, which can be an emergency door.Amazingly, the clear impress of his fingers which seem natural formations on the roof and the finger prints suggest a a human figure of 6-7 ft in height. The floor gently slopes towards an alter at the extreme end and now the modern statues and inscriptions are on it.
Archeological Details: About the year 1551, Little Mount began to be leveled and cleared for the convenience of pilgrims. The Portuguese built the old Church of Our Lady of Health adjoining the cave. Behind this church, there on level ground, a rough cross chiseled on stone where St. Thomas is said to have offered mass and spent long hours in prayer and meditation. There are many stories and legends concerned to the cave, and a perennial Spring of St. Thomas which is enclosed are recorded by Fr. Tachard of 14th century. Except for erecting a small altar, the cave is preserved in it's original form. On the right side top, a sort of window can be seen. It is believed to be miraculasly made through which St. Thomas escaped from the approaching enemies through the opening of the cave. Little Mount seems to be invested now with an air of artificiality. Great care, however, appears to have been taken not to tamper with the things intimately related to St. Thomas. Hoary and holy monuments impel visitors as it were, to piety and recollection. For the annual feast of the 4th Sunday after Easter, pilgrims from all over the neigbour lands, both Christians and non-Christians flock to this place by thousands year after year.
St. Thomas Spring
St. Thomas Spring in little mount There is a spring on the rock behind the Church, called the perpetual spring of the saint. It is traditionally held, recorded only in 1765 AD by Fr. G. Tachard S.J "people who come in crowds to hear him preaching suffered much from thirst. The saint knelt down in prayer and struck the rock with his stick, and there formed an instant spring to quench the thirst of people." On south, almost opposite to the entrance, a sort of window(2.5 ft long) throws a dim light in to the cave, which can be an emergency door.Amazingly, the clear impress of his fingers which seem natural formations on the roof and the finger prints suggest a a human figure of 6-7 ft in height. The floor gently slopes towards an alter at the extreme end and now the modern statues and inscriptions are on it.
Archeological Details: About the year 1551, Little Mount began to be leveled and cleared for the convenience of pilgrims. The Portuguese built the old Church of Our Lady of Health adjoining the cave. Behind this church, there on level ground, a rough cross chiseled on stone where St. Thomas is said to have offered mass and spent long hours in prayer and meditation. There are many stories and legends concerned to the cave, and a perennial Spring of St. Thomas which is enclosed are recorded by Fr. Tachard of 14th century. Except for erecting a small altar, the cave is preserved in it's original form. On the right side top, a sort of window can be seen. It is believed to be miraculasly made through which St. Thomas escaped from the approaching enemies through the opening of the cave. Little Mount seems to be invested now with an air of artificiality. Great care, however, appears to have been taken not to tamper with the things intimately related to St. Thomas. Hoary and holy monuments impel visitors as it were, to piety and recollection. For the annual feast of the 4th Sunday after Easter, pilgrims from all over the neigbour lands, both Christians and non-Christians flock to this place by thousands year after year.
Prof John Kurakar
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