- Christ the King (statue)
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Coordinates: 52°14′12″N 15°32′48″E / 52.236738°N 15.546552°E
Pomnik Chrystusa Króla
Christ the King
The statue in April 2011
Basic information Location Świebodzin, Poland Architectural description Architect(s) Mirosław Kazimierz Patecki Architectural type Statue Groundbreaking 29 September 2006 Specifications Height (max) 33 metres (108 ft) Materials Concrete 
The statue under construction in August 2010
Christ the King (Polish: Pomnik Chrystusa Króla) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Świebodzin, Poland, completed on 6 November 2010. The statue is 33 metres (108 ft) tall,[1] the crown is 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall [2] and along with its mound, it reaches 72.5 metres (238 ft) overall, making it the tallest statue of Jesus in the world. It weighs 440 tonnes.[2] The project was conceived and led by Sylwester Zawadzki, a retired Polish priest.[3]
Contents
Characteristics
The statue was built on a 16 metre embankment of stones and rubble. Christ the King has a height of 33 metres, symbolising a traditional belief that Jesus' age at his death was 33.[1] The Crown of the temple is 3.5 metres in diameter and 2 m in height, and the whole is gilded. The head is 4.5 m tall and weighs 15 tons. Each hand is 6 m in length and the distance between the ends of the fingers is 24 metres. It is composed of plaster and fibreglass.[1] It is claimed to be the tallest statue of Jesus in the world,[3] although it remains smaller than that of Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia if the statue's crown is not counted.[citation needed] It is 3 meters taller than the better known statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, standing at 30.1 metres (99 ft) tall without its pedestal.
Project
The designs for various elements of the statue were produced by a number of individuals; the sculpture design was primarily produced by Mirosław Kazimierz Patecki with the technical design aspect being undertaken by Assoc. Jakub Marcinowski and Assoc. Mikołaj Kłapeć, both of whom are employees of the University of Zielona Gora. Meanwhile elements of the clothing and the arms of the statue were designed by Tomasz Stafiniak and Krzysztof Nawojski (the latter being of the town of Świebodzin) respectively. Another resident of Świebodzin, Marian Wybraniec, was responsible for the design of the foundations upon which the statue was constructed.
The construction work was undertaken by staff employed by the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Świebodzin and included welders, locksmiths and mechanics.
Construction
On 29 September 2006, the city council of Świebodzin passed a resolution on the establishment of Christ the King.[4] The President (under the authority of the board) along with the mayor spoke to the Bishop of Zielona Góra-Gorzów Diocese. There was initial opposition[citation needed] from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. State officials also temporarily halted the project due to safety concerns. With funding from local people and as far away as Canada, the statue was completed on November 6, 2010.
See also
- Cristo Redentore in Maratea, Italy
- Christ The Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
- Christ of Vung Tau in Vietnam (32 m)
- Cristo-Rei in Portugal: a 28 meter high replica of Christ the Redeemer
- Cristo Rey del Cubilete in Guanajuato, Mexico: a 23 meter high statue inspired by Christ the Redeemer
- Christ of the Ozarks in Arkansas, USA: a 20 meter high statue inspired by Christ the Redeemer
- Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (Argentina/Chile)
- Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Cristo Blanco in Cuzco, Peru
- Cristo de las Noas in Torreón, Mexico
- Christ the Redeemer, by Michelangelo
- Christ of the Abyss in various underwater locations
- List of statues by height
References
- ^ a b c Jesus rises from cabbage field, Irish Times, November 5, 2010
- ^ a b "Rio wschodu" (in Polish). 2009-01-29. http://przekroj.pl/cywilizacja_otworz_artykul,3984,0.html. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ a b "Polish Town Erects World's Largest Jesus Statue". Christian Post. 2010-11-06. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101106/polish-town-erects-worlds-largest-jesus-statue/. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ ŚWIEBODZIN: Chrystus Król zapanuje nad Świebodzinem dopiero wiosną - 11 grudnia 2007
External links
- The official Website of the Jesus Christ the King Statue (Polish, German, English, Russian)
Categories:- Monuments and memorials in Poland
- Buildings and structures completed in 2010
- Colossal statues of Jesus
- Świebodzin County
- Christ the King
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