Shrine of our Lady of Health, Little Mount Church, Chinnamalai, Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

……. A continuation post to Saidapet Court and Raj Bhavan.

 03^rd December 2016.

Whenever I passed through Chinna Malai, I thought of visiting the Little Mount Church. This came true on 3^rd December 2016. The road was ascending in the east direction from the western entrance arch to the hilltop. Along the pathway to the hillock are sculptures depicting the story of Thomas preaching to natives with peacocks. We could see many of the churches, like the San Thome church altar. 

  

The old church was built in the year 1551 CE. Inside the Church of Mother Mary’s, a wooden statue is kept in the altar, which might have been brought by the Portuguese about 500 years ago. To the left of the altar steps, there is a holy cave entrance. It is believed that St. Thomas hid in the cave when Rajah Mahadevan of Mylapuram’s men hunted to kill him. (At the entrance, a plaque with inscriptions says that St Thomas hid in the cave in the year 68 CE). The signboards were placed at a small passage through which St. Thomas escaped with palm & fingerprints.

  

Little above the church, on the hillock, are the footprints of St. Thomas and the cross made by him on the rock. It was said that blood bled from the cross during December months between 1551 and 1704 CE, hence the Cross is called the bleeding Cross. In remembrance of this, a feast is being celebrated during December every year. Very near the cross, there is a sweet water spring between two small rocks. On top, there is Stucco's image of Jesus on a three-pillar structure, standing tall above the shed. It was a great walk and a satisfying walk indeed.  My Facebook page with comments. 

INSCRIPTIONS

 "...a sua custa no ano de 1612", I.e. "at his own expense in the year 1612".

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH:    CLICK HERE

 Inside the cave 

For more photographs: CLICK HERE 

…. To be continued ( Marmalong Bridge )