The Independent: How the ‘World’s Largest Jesus Statue’ Became an Armenian Village’s Top Tourist Attraction

On the edge of a dusty construction yard, just a 30-minute drive from Yerevan, towers what could eventually become the tallest statue of Jesus Christ in the world—though for now, the monument remains stranded in pieces on the ground, The Independent reports.

The colossal aluminum figure, serving as both an unfinished monument and an accidental tourist attraction, currently sits behind a corrugated iron fence in the village of Zovuni on the outskirts of the Armenian capital. Here, it awaits the day it will finally be airlifted by helicopter to the peak of a nearby mountain.

When The Independent’s correspondent visited the site on a warm June day, a group of Russian tourists pulled up by the fence to peer over the perimeter and snap selfies. Locals smiled as they watched the foreigners photograph what is fast becoming one of Armenia’s most curious landmarks, already mapped out on Google Maps as “Statue de Jesus Christ en construction” (Jesus Christ Statue under construction).

The sheer scale of the project becomes obvious even as you approach the yard. The upper torso of the titanic figure abruptly rises amid an otherwise unremarkable landscape of garages, vacant lots, and scattered homes, dwarfing all surrounding buildings.

Inside the yard itself, smaller sculptures—historical figures, horses, and cartoon characters left over from previous, far more modest commissions—are on display. Yet, the massive, three-piece Jesus decisively dominates the scene. If all goes according to plan, it is destined to become the country's new symbol.

The project is the brainchild of Gagik Tsarukyan, a former arm-wrestling champion turned tycoon and politician, who stands as one of Armenia's wealthiest and most polarizing public figures.

First unveiled in 2022, the vision outlines a 33-meter aluminum statue of Jesus to be erected atop a 44-meter pedestal on Mount Hatis, roughly 30 kilometers northeast of Yerevan. Engineering works on the mountain's base are currently in full swing. With a combined height of 77 meters, the monument is set to eclipse Brazil's famous Christ the Redeemer and break the records of existing giants in Poland and Indonesia.

Tsarukyan previously stated that the statue embodies hope and national revival following years of political turmoil and the losses suffered by Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Announcing the project in January 2022, he emphasized that the monument would serve as a "guardian of our country and our people" and make a profound impression on the international community.

Proponents of the ambitious venture argue that the monument could act as a powerful magnet for travelers and boost tourism to the country, which is currently actively marketing itself on the global stage. Notably, Armenia has recently expanded its transit links with Western Europe, with the first-ever direct flights from London Luton Airport launching just days ago.

Nevertheless, the project has ignited fierce domestic debate, touching upon sensitive nerves regarding religion and material inequality.

Armenia holds a unique place in Christian history as the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official state religion in the early 4th century. However, despite these deep-rooted Christian foundations, erecting monumental statues of Christ has never been a part of local spiritual tradition.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has repeatedly spoken out against the project, arguing that it runs counter to the country’s centuries-old heritage. Instead, church leaders point to khachkars—the intricately carved stone cross-stones unique to Armenia—as the traditional and authentic expression of Armenian Christian faith.

In March, the Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council reaffirmed its objections, while still acknowledging Tsarukyan’s long-standing contributions to funding church construction and restorations.

"The Church does not consider the installation of a statue of our Lord Jesus Christ to be acceptable," the council said in an official statement. Clergy members stressed that the proposal violates the Church's historical iconographic canons, urging the creators to pivot toward a monument rooted in the khachkar tradition instead.

Critics of the project also question whether the astronomical sums required would be better directed toward more pressing national needs, particularly as the country navigates geopolitical instability and ongoing security challenges.

Still, Tsarukyan’s initiative has caught attention far beyond Armenia's borders. Earlier this year, former UFC champion Conor McGregor expressed his desire to see a similar, yet even larger, statue of Christ built in Ireland. Posting an AI-generated mockup on his Instagram account, the fighter praised the Armenian project as "magnificent" and called for a "colossal monument to our nation's faith."

For now, Armenia's giant Jesus remains a work in progress. While the pedestal on Mount Hatis continues to rise, the figure itself bides its time, resting in fragments on a dusty edge of town.

Whether this monument will ultimately stand as a symbol of national pride, a new religious milestone, or an unfinished testament to societal division remains to be seen. One thing is certain: international curiosity surrounding these fenced-in fragments is already immense—whether or not they are ever pieced together.