Church of Our Lady of Health
Little Mount,
Saidapet,
Chennai - 600 015.
Phone: 044 2235 1863
A Brief History
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 away in
the 16th century over this part of the century, 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 the
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.