Manapad - A rare place in Earth to visit

This is also located on the sea-shore at the Bay of Bengal about 18 Km, from Tiruchendur. An ancient Roman Catholic Church is here where the Cross is said to have been brought from Jerusalem. This Church is also associated with St. Xavier, the famous missionary from West. Since there are other small temples here this place is called as "Chinna Jerusalem" (Small Jerusalem).

The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated annually by the Catholic Church on 14 September, as one of thanksgiving for the recovery of the True Cross from the Persians by the great Emperor Heraclius. Fragments of the True Cross were in due course brought from Jerusalem to many churches dedicated to the Holy Cross in the East and West. These churches sought to imitate the solemn ceremonies in use at Jerusalem in order to do homage to the Holy Cross. Possibly one of the earliest dedications to the Cross in India was the Church of the Holy Cross in Manapad. Throughout the year many pilgrims visit the church and thousands congregate during the festive season from first to fourteenth September.