In Poland, a 55.6-meter tall statue of the Virgin Mary was consecrated, the tallest in Europe

Konotopie – A statue of the Virgin Mary was consecrated today in the Polish village of Konotopie, which, at 55.6 meters, is considered the tallest of its kind in Europe. Its construction was financed by one of the wealthiest Polish entrepreneurs, reported the AP agency. In the Philippines, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary that measures approximately 98 meters.

The Polish monument rises above the central Polish village of Konotopie, where fewer than 150 inhabitants live. The statue itself is 40.6 meters tall, but its total height includes a 15-meter-high pedestal in the shape of a crown, which features an observation platform. Local authorities hope that the monument will become not only a significant pilgrimage site but also a tourist attraction.

The statue was commissioned by Polish millionaires Roman and Grażyna Karkosik, who live in a small castle a few kilometers from Konotopie. Entrepreneur Karkosik amassed his fortune through investments on the Warsaw stock exchange and has become one of the richest people in Poland. According to the couple, the monument expresses their gratitude to God – it began construction after Karkosik suffered an illness.

The newly consecrated work is taller than the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which measures approximately 38 meters including its pedestal. It also surpasses another recently built religious monument in Poland – the statue of Jesus Christ in the city of Świebodzin in the west of the country, which was consecrated in November 2010 and, including its mound, rises to a height of about 52 meters.

The vast majority of Poles identify as Catholic. The Catholic Church has played a significant role in public life since the fall of communism in 1989, benefiting from the prestige it gained through supporting the anti-communist opposition. However, the influence of religion on public life has weakened in recent years, especially among younger people and in urban areas. The Catholic Church retains its influence primarily in rural areas and among the elderly.

One of the famous Polish natives is Karol Wojtyla, who served as Pope John Paul II from 1978 until his death in 2005 and was canonized in 2014. His enormous statue, although much smaller than the newly consecrated monument, was unveiled more than a decade ago in the city of Częstochowa in southern Poland.