World's Largest Jesus Statue Construction Starts: A Massive 101-Meter Monument Near Turkey
Armenia is rolling up its sleeves to construct the world's largest statue of Jesus, located near the Turkish border. The colossal monument, standing at 101 meters high, is set to be placed at the peak of Mount Hatis, near Yerevan. It is poised to overshadow the iconic Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the Statue of Liberty in New York. However, this massive project, funded by a billionaire businessman, has met with stern backlash from the local church, cultural advocates, and environmentalists.
Situated approximately 25 kilometers away from Yerevan and standing at an altitude of 2,500 meters, the peak of Mount Hatis is recently playing host to one of the most controversial constructions in the world.
The project, financed by Armenian businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and first unveiled to the global public by The Guardian in June 2026, is expected to be easily visible from many points in the capital city of Yerevan and its surrounding regions upon completion.
Construction of the statue, which began in 2022, has been progressing in fits and starts, with the construction phase proving to be quite challenging. Initially, it was planned to transport the colossal parts of the statue to the mountain's peak by helicopters. However, this plan was abandoned due to the weight of the parts and logistical difficulties. As a new approach, it was decided to transport the massive parts up the steep mountain roads by special trucks and assemble them directly at the peak. Despite four years of ongoing work, a definitive opening date is still not in sight.
Armenia holds the distinction of being the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD.
Gagik Tsarukyan, the name behind the project, aspires to transform this historical heritage into a commercial and touristic brand. Tsarukyan's objective is to attract 10 million tourists annually to the country through this monument.
Moreover, the plans for Mount Hatis are not merely limited to the statue of Jesus. As part of the project, a colossal replica of Noah's Ark, measuring 134 meters in length, 24 meters in width, and 18 meters in height, is being constructed in the region. This gigantic structure will house a museum, a hotel, and restaurants.
Although the project holds great potential from a tourism perspective, it has sparked a serious conflict within Armenia.
The Armenian Apostolic Church vehemently opposes the project due to its scale and style. Church officials argue that the massive human silhouettes do not reflect the local religious identity, emphasizing that Armenia's Christian culture is rooted not in these figures, but in historical monasteries, churches, and traditional stone crosses (Khachkar).
In addition to cultural debates, environmentalists are also sounding the alarm for the ecological balance of Mount Hatis. Warnings are being issued that the infrastructure needs brought about by heavy machinery, trucks, and hundreds of thousands of tourists will permanently disrupt the mountain's natural structure, soil, and silhouette.
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