World’s tallest statue of Jesus progresses in Armenia at 101 meters atop a mountain
Financed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, the world’s largest statue of Jesus is expected to reach 101 meters on Mount Hatis, near Yerevan. The project plans to be assembled by trucks, aims to transform Christianity into a tourist brand of Armenia, and faces criticism from the Apostolic Church and environmentalists regarding scale and location.
The world’s largest statue of Jesus is being prepared in Armenia to occupy the top of Mount Hatis, an elevation of approximately 2,500 meters located about 25 kilometers from Yerevan. Financed by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, the monument is expected to reach 101 meters and remains unfinished after works started in 2022.
The information was published by The Guardian on June 21, 2026. The project is presented by Tsarukyan as a future tourist and religious reference for the country, but faces resistance from representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church and environmental groups concerned about the scale of the construction and its effects on the mountain.
Monument aims to be seen from large parts of Yerevan
Video: Social Media/@tudo_e_geografia.The location at the top of Mount Hatis was chosen to enhance the visibility of the structure. If completed according to the disclosed project, the white figure of Jesus could be observed from different points of the Armenian capital and nearby areas.
With a planned height of 101 meters, the structure will be considerably taller than the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. The comparison with the Brazilian monument has been used by the financier to demonstrate the international scale he intends to attribute to the Armenian project.
Tsarukyan also states that the world’s largest statue of Jesus will stand slightly above the Statue of Liberty in New York when considering the total height presented for the new monument. The symbolic competition for dimensions is part of the strategy used to draw international attention to the construction.
Structure Began Assembly Far from the Top
Transport by Helicopter Was Dismissed by the Team
Project Remains Unfinished Since the Start of Construction
Video: Social Media/@tudo_e_geografia. Construction began in 2022 but progressed intermittently. Four years later, the world’s largest statue of Jesus had not yet been installed at its definitive point, despite the production of important parts of the figure.
The absence of a confirmed completion date leaves doubts about the schedule. The challenge is not limited to the image’s fabrication, as it includes land preparation, transportation of parts, structural assembly, and creation of the necessary infrastructure to receive visitors.
Entrepreneur predicts 10 million tourists per year
Tsarukyan claims that the monument could attract up to 10 million visitors annually. The number corresponds to an expectation disclosed by the financier himself, and not an independent projection proven by publicly presented tourism studies.
Local church questions scale and religious language
The Armenian Apostolic Church has expressed opposition to the project, considering that its scale and style do not correspond to the traditional forms of Christian expression in the country. The institution highlights the historical importance of churches, monasteries, and stone crosses known as khachkars.
These elements use architecture, sculpture, and symbolism unique to Armenian culture, without relying on colossal human figures. The religious critique does not reject the presence of Christianity in public space, but questions whether a gigantic monument adequately represents the local tradition.
Environmentalists warn of changes on Mount Hatis
Environmental groups claim that the implementation could cause permanent changes to the natural landscape. The preparation of access routes, movement of trucks, foundation works, and installation of tourist infrastructure may interfere with the soil and the visual aspect of the mountain.
The actual impact will depend on the construction methods, the limits of the area used, and the protective measures adopted. As the project intends to occupy a high and visible point, any transformation in the terrain may also be perceived from a long distance.
Noah’s Ark integrates plan for new attractions
The statue is not the only biblical-themed construction
The proposal includes a museum on the ground floor, a hotel on the first floor, and a café on the second. The association between the two ventures indicates the intention to create a tourist complex, and not just an isolated monument on top of the mountain.
Dimension divides residents and keeps future open
Some Armenians see the construction as an opportunity to expand the country’s international projection. Others consider the scale excessive and question whether a monument of this size should become the main representation of the national Christian heritage.
While the pieces remain at the construction site and the installation on Mount Hatis is not completed, the project continues between ambition and uncertainty. In your opinion, could the world’s largest statue of Jesus strengthen Armenia’s tourism or does its size exceed the limits of the landscape and local tradition? Leave your comment.
