HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsLittle Mount Shrine
India
Little Mount is our next destination in this St Thomas Tour. It is a cave in which St.Thomas hid in AD 68 and did penance. There is an opening to the east of the cave through which St.Thomas escaped when his pursuers caught up with him here. The palm print and hand print near the tunnel’s entrance are believed to be those of St.Thomas himself. We will also see the masonry cross cut at the top of the hill which is believed to be the cross before which St.Thomas prayed. Another interesting aspect of this cave is the spring inside the hill which is perennial and is supposed to be the miraculous creation of the St. Thomas himself.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Little Mount Shrine
Welcome back to Little Mount, where we will now shift our focus from the physical artifacts of the apostle's residence to the broader intellectual and theological journey he undertook here. In this second phase of our…
Listen in the app2The River Viewpoint — A Gateway for New Ideas
Let us start at the northern edge of the mount, overlooking the Adyar River. In the 1st century, this river was a vital artery for trade and communication. …
Listen in the app3The Preaching Platform — Engaging the Local Community
Moving toward the center of the hilltop, we find the areas where Saint Thomas traditionally addressed the crowds. His talks were 'extremely popular,' attracting not just the common folk but the 'King of the land.' This is where…
Listen in the app4The Site of the Attack — Faith and Martyrdom
Near the entrance to the sacred cave is the spot where the popular mission of Saint Thomas met with violent opposition. His popularity 'earned Saint Thomas some enemies,' and one day, while he was praying at Little Mount, he was…
Listen in the app5The Bell Tower and Call to Prayer
Every spiritual hill needs a voice, and at Little Mount, that voice is the bell tower. While the current tower is a modern addition, it continues an ancient tradition of signaling the time for prayer and gathering. …
Listen in the app6The Syriac and Nestorian Influence Area
In a quieter corner of the mount, we can reflect on the 'middle eastern lands' that kept the memory of Thomas alive during the 1400 years when he was largely forgotten by the West. Small groups of Christians from Persia and…
Listen in the app7The Panoramic Summit — Seeing the Whole Story
Finally, we reach the highest accessible point of Little Mount, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding area. From here, you can see the relationship between the different sites associated with Saint Thomas. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our second exploration of Little Mount, we reflect on the intellectual and cultural bridge that Saint Thomas built between the ancient world of the Mediterranean and the shores of India. We have seen how this hill…
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What is Little Mount Shrine?
Little Mount Shrine is a place in India with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | India |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 13.0152, 80.2255 |
| Last updated |