Manapad, situated 70 km away from Thirunelveli and 18 km south of Tiruchendur is a predominantly Roman Catholic coastal village. The village is famous for the 400- year old Holy Cross Church built in the year1581 on the sea-shore which has believed to be a fragment of the true cross of Jerusalem. Thousand of devotees congregate here during the festival season from 1st to 14th September every year, when the holy cross is publicly displayed. Manapad is said to have some connection with St. Francis Xavier. It is one of the first places to be visited by the saint in 1542 when he initiated missionary activity on the Fishery coast. He is said to have lived and prayed in a cavern on the seaward face of a cliff.