Poland Unveils Europe's Tallest Statue of the Virgin Mary

In the Polish village of Konotopa, a giant statue of the Virgin Mary standing 55.6 metres tall was consecrated on Saturday — according to the AP news agency, it is now the tallest monument of its kind in Europe. Construction was funded by one of Poland's wealthiest businessmen.

The figure itself measures 40.6 metres, and together with the 15-metre crown-shaped pedestal — which also houses an observation deck — the monument's total height reaches 55.6 metres. It towers over Konotopa, a tiny settlement in central Poland with fewer than 150 residents. Local authorities hope the statue will become both a pilgrimage site and a tourist attraction.

Who Paid for It

The project was commissioned by Polish millionaires Roman and Grażyna Karkosik, who live in a small castle just a few kilometres from Konotopa. Roman Karkosik built his fortune through investments on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and ranks among Poland's richest people. According to the couple, the monument is an expression of gratitude to God — construction began after Karkosik recovered from a serious illness.

Taller Than Christ the Redeemer

The newly consecrated statue now surpasses the famous Christ the Redeemer monument in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which stands at about 38 metres including its pedestal. It also outstrips another relatively recent religious monument in Poland itself — the statue of Christ the King in Świebodzin in western Poland, consecrated in November 2010, which reaches roughly 52 metres including its mound. By comparison, a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines stands at around 98 metres.

Religion in Polish Life

The vast majority of Poles identify as Catholic. Following the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the Catholic Church played a prominent role in Poland's public life, largely thanks to the credibility it had earned through its support for the anti-communist opposition. In recent years, religion's influence on society has been waning, particularly among young people and urban dwellers, though the Church retains strong support in rural areas and among older generations.

One of Poland's most famous native sons remains Karol Wojtyła — Pope John Paul II, who led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 and was canonised in 2014. His own large statue, though far smaller than the new monument, was erected more than a decade ago in the southern Polish city of Częstochowa.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz