St. Thomas Mount has drawn the admiration of the local people as well all the tourists, who visit Chennai. It is a tiny hillock, situated in the heart of the city. It has the famous Guindy lying in its close proximity.

St. Thomas Mount is linked to St. Thomas, the renowned `apostle` of Jesus Christ, who is thought to achieve its martyrdom here. As per the popular saying, St. Thomas was one of the pioneering Christian missionaries who came to India in order to propagate the teachings of Christianity. He is supposed to have arrived at South India in AD 52, and also spent the final years of his life in a fissure that was built on this mount. According to the local belief, Thomas was killed with the aid of an arrow in AD 72, by his enemies. Thus, the hill acquired the name St. Thomas Mount.

St. Thomas Mount is also popularized locally as "Peria Malai". It has got etymological significance. As per the Tamil language Peria Malai , better known as "Firangi Malai", which means huge mount . The Portuguese constructed a church of low stature in the year 1523. Its top elevates to a height of almost three hundred feet. St. Thomas Mount has rich association with the famous people from out side also. In fact Pope John Paul II visited the place during his visit to India on 5th February 1986.

Consecrated to "Our Lady of Expectation" or `Mother Mary`, in the year 1523, a shrine was made on the peak of the mount. It is thought that the `altar` of the shrine was constructed on the place where St. Thomas was martyrized in AD 72. At the north base of the St. Thomas Mount, there is an entrance of four remarkable curves .A cross, which was in 1547, surmounts these curves. One needs to take strides of one hundred and sixty in order to reach the top of the St Thomas Mount. There are fourteen `Stations of the Cross` set up en route to the summit.

Furthermore, in 1547, a thorough excavation discovers a stone cross with ancient `Sassanid Pahlavi` inscriptions on it. The cross, presumed to have been chiselled by the apostle himself. It became popular as the `Bleeding Cross` as it has bloodstains, which resurface still after being scratched off. It is also supposed to `bleed` afresh on a periodical basis. It first `bled` openly in front of public during Mass in 1558 and the last record of its bleeding was in the year 1704. After its discovery, the cross was placed on the wall of the church`s altar, which it embellishes still today.

On one side of the `chancel` there are oil paintings that are nicely framed up describing all the twelve Apostles of the Christ. On the top of the altar, there is an oil painting of The Madonna. It is thought to be one of the seven paintings by St.Luke the Evangelist and St. Thomas brought it to India. This picture of Madonna is regarded as the most erstwhile Christian painting in Indian subcontinent. Festival of Our Lady of Expectation is celebrated on 18th December in a grand manner. Saint Thomas day is celebrated on the 3rd of July in memory of his martyrdom.

St Thomas Mount wore a grand look at the tome of Easter festivals. During this time, the devotees go up to the staircases of the church, singing anthems and also reciting the "Way of the Cross" prayers. An Armenian merchant, Petrus Woskan, covered the way with steps made up of granites making climbing easy and smooth. It is also thought that the oil paintings and marvelously engraved podium also contributed by this same Armenian patron.

Bordering the church, the "Holy Apostles Convent" is handled by the saints of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) order, which is an abode for the physically and mentally challenged children controlled by the convent nuns.

The name of St. Thomas Mount is linked with other important things of India. In the year 1972, to venerate the nineteenth centenary of the martyrdom, the Post and Telegraphs department of the Government of India, brought out a postage stamp describing the image of the blood strewn cross of St. Thomas Mount. In the beginning, i.e. in the year 1964, another stamp was being brought out by the Post and Telegraph department of Indian government. . It depicts the `Ortona silver bust of St. Thomas` .

St. Thomas Mount is the venue for officers training Academy (OTA) as organized by the Indian Army. Even there is station, built in the Southern line of the Chennai suburban railway, which got its name after St. Thomas Mount.