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 Roman Basilica Minor, St. Thomas Cathedral, Madras,
                  planned 1606 and finished 1896   [i]
 
Mylapore – the Tomb

“Blessed they who have not seen”:  [ii]   
from early years his Relics were enshrined 
Tip of Spear, some Bones, and Jar of Blooded Earth, 
sixteen feet deep, five layers each of sand and stone  
 
His Body was “translated” back to Syria, 
carried, they say, by Merchant Habban,
whose trade ship brought him first to Malabar,
Edessa’s churches sang him praise in Ephrem’s hymns.   
 
Year 1500 – Indians, Christians still, greet new ships
as Portuguese arrive, and later famous Xavier,
who stays four months at “old Madrassa house,” 
in order to “consult St. Thomas” for future paths.   
 
The new arrivals excavate, explore, and build: 
Small Mount,  Large Mount,  Mylapore,
new churches fill, with miracles recorded
– two hundred fifty years, the Bleeding Cross …. 
 
Then follow centuries more of pilgrims, feasts.
communities build houses near Large Mount
small Mylapore absorbed in modern, large “Madras.” 
all these around the altars and his Tomb.
 


[i]  Illustration:  Basilica Minor, St. Thomas Cathedral, Madras, planned 1606 and finished 1896:   (w:user:PlaneMad, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons).   “Santhome Basilica.jpg”.   {https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santhome_Basilica.jpg}   (accessed December 1, 2021).     

[ii]  John, 20:29 – “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’  ” 



His Cross tips bud as Syrian pomegranates