In a small village of 120 residents, the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary in Europe is being built
In the small Polish village of Konotopy, home to just 120 people, construction of a 55-meter statue of the Virgin Mary is nearing completion.
Ziare.com reports on this.
The new monument will be the tallest of its kind in Europe. The official consecration of the monument is scheduled for August 15 of this year.
The initiator and sponsor of this large-scale project is local businessman Roman Karkosik, together with his wife.
For most residents and community leaders, the appearance of such a structure came as a complete surprise. According to village head Mieczysław Grebicki, construction of the giant sculpture began without any prior fanfare.
Once all installation work is complete, the Polish Virgin Mary will surpass several world-famous religious monuments in size.
It will surpass the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, which stands 38.5 meters tall.
The new monument will also surpass the current European leader—the Polish statue of Christ the King in Świebodzin, which, together with its mound, reaches 52.5 meters.
The project includes not only a religious but also a practical tourist component for visitors. Inside the crown of the Virgin Mary, builders will construct a special observation deck.
From this platform, guests will be able to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding natural landscapes, local lakes, and forests.
Local authorities have high hopes for this project and predict rapid development for the village. Konotopy is expected to become a major pilgrimage and tourist hub for the region.
The village head is convinced that the monument and the influx of people will not create environmental problems for the area.
“The environment here is not polluted. There is no industry nearby. You can relax, breathe, and swim in the clean waters of the lakes. This will definitely be a wonderful attraction for tourists,” said Mechislav Hrebitsky.
The rural community is responding positively to such drastic changes in their village. People are hoping for improved infrastructure and the creation of new jobs thanks to the influx of travelers.
Construction of a statue of the Virgin Mary has begun near Toruń in Poland. It will stand 55.6 meters tall, making it taller than the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A monument to Princess Olga, which had previously been covered with sandbags, was unveiled in Kyiv
