The World’s Tallest Jesus Statue Is Nearing Completion in Armenia

by Emily Brown

Jesus is (nearly) risen.

Armenia is close to finishing what could become the world’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ, a 252-foot monument rising on Mount Hatis, about 20 miles northeast of the country’s capital, Yerevan.

The project, backed by businessman and former politician Gagik Tsarukyan, includes a 108-foot aluminum statue of Christ sitting atop a 144-foot pedestal. If completed as planned, it would surpass Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, which stands about 125 feet tall including its pedestal.

Supporters have pitched the statue as a major religious tourism draw and a symbol of national renewal for Armenia, the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion.

But the project has been controversial from the start and been delayed for years over various oppositions.

Armenian officials previously halted construction over concerns about Mount Hatis’ archaeological significance. The mountain includes protected cultural sites, including ancient fortress remains. However, work later resumed after the project site was moved and new permits were issued.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has also criticized the monument, arguing that large statues of Christ don’t reflect Armenian Christian tradition. Archaeologists and environmental advocates have raised concerns about the site’s long-term preservation.

For now, the project is moving forward. The statue is in its final stages, making it one of the most visible religious construction projects in the region.