The world’s tallest planned statue of Jesus Christ is almost coming alive in Yerevan, though questions remain over whether it will ever reach its intended home on Mount Hatis.
A massive statue of Jesus Christ is taking shape in Yerevan, the monument designed to become the tallest depiction of Christ in the world.
The Armenian Report visited the site, where the upper half of the sculpture now towers above the sculptor’s backyard. The statue is being built in sections before its planned transport to Mount Hatis in Armenia’s Kotayk Province.
Jesus’ figure will stand 33 meters, or 108 feet, tall. With its pedestal, the full monument is expected to reach 101 meters, or 331 feet.
At that height, the completed structure would exceed Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer and stand slightly taller than the Statue of Liberty from the ground to the tip of its torch.
Businessman and philanthropist Gagik Tsarukyan announced the project on Jan. 14, 2022, presenting it as a tribute to Armenia’s Christian heritage and a potential new landmark for the country.
Armenia is widely regarded as the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, traditionally dating its conversion to A.D. 301. Tsarukyan said the monument would reflect that history while promoting tourism and national unity.
Organizers held a competition to select the design, drawing proposals from Armenian and international sculptors. A commission reviewed the entries and advanced 21 artists to the later stages.
The finalists were given additional time to revise their work. Twelve designs were then submitted to a public SMS vote between April 28 and May 5, 2022.
The public vote was combined with the commission’s decision. Armenian sculptor Armen Samvelyan was announced as the winner on May 10.
Construction formally began on July 9, 2022, during a ceremony on Mount Hatis, a 2,528-meter, or 8,294-foot, peak northeast of Yerevan.
The statue is intended to serve as the centerpiece of a larger tourism complex. Plans have included a museum, cable car, hotels, restaurants, recreation areas and other visitor facilities at and around the mountain.
Supporters say the development could give Armenia a globally recognized attraction tied to its Christian identity. Tsarukyan has described the monument as a future symbol of the country and a project capable of drawing large numbers of foreign visitors.
The proposal has also faced resistance.
The Armenian Apostolic Church has raised concerns about whether a monument of this scale fits Armenia’s religious tradition. Armenian Christianity has historically been expressed through churches, monasteries and khachkars, the carved stone crosses found throughout the country.
Environmental groups have separately warned that construction could damage Mount Hatis’ natural landscape and archaeological heritage.
Work has nevertheless continued in stages.
The sculpture is being assembled away from the mountain because of the scale and complexity of the project. Early plans considered transporting sections by helicopter, but the pieces are now expected to be moved by truck and assembled at the site.
That journey has not yet taken place.
The project’s future has also come under greater scrutiny following Tsarukyan’s arrest in June during a tax investigation and a wider crackdown on businesses linked to his Multi Group conglomerate.
Authorities searched his residence and sealed the offices of several companies. Operations at the Ararat Cement plant, one of the country’s largest industrial employers, were temporarily halted before the government allowed the factory to reopen following protests by workers.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said the government plans to nationalize the cement plant. Tsarukyan and his representatives say the investigation and pressure on his businesses are politically motivated. Authorities deny that claim.
There has been no official announcement that the Jesus statue project has been canceled or suspended.
Still, no date has been announced for its move to Mount Hatis or its final installation.
For now, the towering figure remains in a construction yard outside Yerevan, partly assembled and visible from the surrounding area.
Whether it will eventually rise above Mount Hatis as planned remains an open question.
A massive statue of Jesus Christ is taking shape in Yerevan, the monument designed to become the tallest depiction of Christ in the world.
The Armenian Report visited the site, where the upper half of the sculpture now towers above the sculptor’s backyard. The statue is being built in sections before its planned transport to Mount Hatis in Armenia’s Kotayk Province.
Jesus’ figure will stand 33 meters, or 108 feet, tall. With its pedestal, the full monument is expected to reach 101 meters, or 331 feet.
At that height, the completed structure would exceed Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer and stand slightly taller than the Statue of Liberty from the ground to the tip of its torch.
Businessman and philanthropist Gagik Tsarukyan announced the project on Jan. 14, 2022, presenting it as a tribute to Armenia’s Christian heritage and a potential new landmark for the country.
Armenia is widely regarded as the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, traditionally dating its conversion to A.D. 301. Tsarukyan said the monument would reflect that history while promoting tourism and national unity.
Organizers held a competition to select the design, drawing proposals from Armenian and international sculptors. A commission reviewed the entries and advanced 21 artists to the later stages.
The finalists were given additional time to revise their work. Twelve designs were then submitted to a public SMS vote between April 28 and May 5, 2022.
The public vote was combined with the commission’s decision. Armenian sculptor Armen Samvelyan was announced as the winner on May 10.
Construction formally began on July 9, 2022, during a ceremony on Mount Hatis, a 2,528-meter, or 8,294-foot, peak northeast of Yerevan.
The statue is intended to serve as the centerpiece of a larger tourism complex. Plans have included a museum, cable car, hotels, restaurants, recreation areas and other visitor facilities at and around the mountain.
Supporters say the development could give Armenia a globally recognized attraction tied to its Christian identity. Tsarukyan has described the monument as a future symbol of the country and a project capable of drawing large numbers of foreign visitors.
The proposal has also faced resistance.
The Armenian Apostolic Church has raised concerns about whether a monument of this scale fits Armenia’s religious tradition. Armenian Christianity has historically been expressed through churches, monasteries and khachkars, the carved stone crosses found throughout the country.
Environmental groups have separately warned that construction could damage Mount Hatis’ natural landscape and archaeological heritage.
Work has nevertheless continued in stages.
The sculpture is being assembled away from the mountain because of the scale and complexity of the project. Early plans considered transporting sections by helicopter, but the pieces are now expected to be moved by truck and assembled at the site.
That journey has not yet taken place.
The project’s future has also come under greater scrutiny following Tsarukyan’s arrest in June during a tax investigation and a wider crackdown on businesses linked to his Multi Group conglomerate.
Authorities searched his residence and sealed the offices of several companies. Operations at the Ararat Cement plant, one of the country’s largest industrial employers, were temporarily halted before the government allowed the factory to reopen following protests by workers.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said the government plans to nationalize the cement plant. Tsarukyan and his representatives say the investigation and pressure on his businesses are politically motivated. Authorities deny that claim.
There has been no official announcement that the Jesus statue project has been canceled or suspended.
Still, no date has been announced for its move to Mount Hatis or its final installation.
For now, the towering figure remains in a construction yard outside Yerevan, partly assembled and visible from the surrounding area.
Whether it will eventually rise above Mount Hatis as planned remains an open question.
