Armenia to build the world's tallest statue of Jesus on Mount Hatis

Mount Hatis is a dormant volcano located about 30 kilometers northeast of Yerevan. Photo: armenian-tour

In January 2026, it became known that in Armenia the implementation of a project to erect the world's tallest statue of Jesus Christ is underway. The monument is being built on Mount Hatis near Yerevan, reports The California Courier.

The project is taking shape on Mount Hatis, a dormant volcano located about 30 kilometers northeast of Yerevan, the country’s capital, and aims to establish itself as a new spiritual and tourist icon of the Caucasian nation. The Jesus figure itself will be 33 meters tall, symbolizing the age of the Savior, and together with the pedestal, the total height of the monument will reach 77 meters.

Thus, the Armenian statue will surpass in size the famous Christian monuments in the world, including the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia. According to preliminary plans, completion of construction is scheduled for the current year.

The project initiator is Armenian businessman and politician Gagik Tsarukyan. He states that the erection of the monument is intended to strengthen the country's religious identity and emphasize Armenia's special role in Christian history – as the first state to adopt Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD.

The initiative is being promoted by Armenian businessman and politician Gagik Tsarukyan, who has defended the construction as a way to strengthen the country’s religious identity and position Armenia as a key destination for spiritual tourism. However, the project has not been without controversy. The construction also causes criticism – primarily from environmentalists and public figures who point to possible damage to the natural environment of Mount Hatis and consider social and infrastructure projects to be priorities.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote about a French pensioner who donated one million euros for the restoration of a church.

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