Dioceses of Saint Thomas of Mylapore

The Diocese of Saint Thomas of Mylapore, or in Portuguese São Tomé de Meliapore, in Latin Sancti Thomae de Meliapor), was a suffragan diocese to the primatial See of Goa in the East Indies. It was located in Mylapore, and derives its name from the site of its cathedral in which the Apostle St. Thomas was reportedly interred on the site of his martyrdom and the Tamil word Mailapur (i.e. the town of peacocks), which the Greeks rendered as Maliarpha, the Portuguese as Meliapor, and the English as Mylapore.

Early history

According to local traditions found amongst Saint Thomas Christians, Apostle Thomas arrived in India (Kodungallur in Kerala) in 52 AD. which was then a flourishing city. The number of converts St. Thomas made having aroused the hostility of the local priests, he reportedly fled from their anger to the summit of what is now known as St. Thomas's Mount situated in a direct line four miles (6 km) to the southwest of Mylapur but was followed by his persecutors, who transfixed him with a lance as he prayed kneeling on a stone, A.D. 72. His body was brought to Mylapore and buried inside the church built by himself. The present Santhome Church is on this spot. Most of the sources of information on the arrival of Christianity in India are from...
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