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Tallest Virgin Mary statue in Europe inaugurated in small Polish village
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Culture & Society

Tallest Virgin Mary statue in Europe inaugurated in small Polish village

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A 55.6-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary was inaugurated in Konotopie, a village in central Poland with fewer than 150 residents.
  • The monument, including its 15-meter crown-shaped pedestal, is considered the tallest of its kind in Europe, surpassing statues in Rio de Janeiro and Poland.
  • The statue was funded by businessman Roman Karkosik and his wife, who expressed gratitude to God, and local authorities hope it will become a major pilgrimage and tourist destination.

A towering new religious monument, standing at 55.6 meters, has been inaugurated in the small Polish village of Konotopie, home to fewer than 150 residents. The statue of the Virgin Mary, including its 15-meter crown-shaped pedestal, is now considered the tallest of its kind in Europe. This impressive structure surpasses the height of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro (38 meters with its base) and the Christ the King statue in ลšwiebodzin, Poland (52.5 meters with its base).

The inauguration ceremony on Saturday was attended by hundreds of faithful and featured historical leader of the Solidarity movement and former president of Poland, Lech Waล‚ฤ™sa. The event was imbued with religious and symbolic significance, including a mass celebrated by priests and performances by the renowned Polish folk ensemble Mazowsze. Helicopters flew overhead, scattering hundreds of red rose petals.

Lech Waล‚ฤ™sa, 82, who played a pivotal role in the fight against communism and is deeply connected to the Catholic faith, stated, "I started with the Virgin Mary and I will end with the Virgin Mary." The monument was funded by businessman Roman Karkosik and his wife, Graลผyna, who described it as an expression of gratitude to God. Local authorities are optimistic that the colossal statue will transform Konotopie into a significant pilgrimage and tourist hub, reinforcing the strong presence of the Catholic Church in the country, particularly in rural areas and among older generations.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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