Tsarukyan, Creator of Armenia’s Giant Jesus Statue, Says It Will Be a New Wonder of the World

A massive project of Jesus Christ in Armenia is nearing completion, sparking both admiration and controversy. Gagik Tsarukyan, a wealthy businessman and politician, recently announced that a giant statue of Jesus Christ, which he has been working on since early 2022, is "almost ready." The statue is set to be erected on Mount Hatis, near Yerevan, and is envisioned to be one of the most impressive landmarks of its kind in the world.

Tsarukyan, who has a reputation for grandiose projects, spoke confidently to journalists at the workshop where the statue is being crafted. He emphasized that this statue will be unique, declaring, "You must be looking and seeing that there is nothing like this in the world, that ours must be the best, the most beautiful and impressive in the world."

The idea for this towering statue was first unveiled in January 2022, when Tsarukyan announced his plans to place it on Mount Hatis. The statue, designed by sculptor Armen Manvelian, will stand 33 meters (108.3 feet) tall atop a 44-meter pedestal, making it an imposing figure on the mountain, which itself rises more than 2,500 meters above sea level. Tsarukyan described the statue as a "guardian of our country and people," intended to impress not only Armenians but also the international community.

However, the project has not been without its detractors. The Armenian Apostolic Church, a deeply influential institution in the country, has publicly opposed the statue, arguing that it goes against Armenian Christian traditions. This stance reflects broader concerns about the appropriateness of such a statue within the context of Armenia's religious and cultural heritage.

The project also faced legal hurdles when the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture ordered a halt to the construction in July 2022, just one day after it officially began. The ministry, backed by concerns from archaeologists, highlighted that Mount Hatis is home to about two dozen ancient monuments protected by the state. These include the ruins of a Bronze Age fortress discovered at the summit by an Armenian-Italian archaeological expedition in 2019.

In response to these concerns, Tsarukyan stated that he has made adjustments to the project to address the ministry's objections. He has pledged to preserve the ancient monuments on the mountain and even undertake efforts to refurbish some of them. However, despite these assurances, the Ministry of Education has yet to issue any statements indicating that the project can proceed. Additionally, the Armenian Apostolic Church has not withdrawn its objections.

Tsarukyan's involvement in the project has also been viewed through the lens of his political career. As the founding leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), he was once a leading opposition figure in the country's parliament, frequently challenging Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. His political career has been marked by controversy, including charges of vote-buying and a brief arrest in September 2020, just before the outbreak of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Tsarukyan has consistently denied the charges, claiming they were politically motivated.

Following his party's failure to secure any seats in the June 2021 parliamentary elections, Tsarukyan has kept a relatively low profile. In November 2021, the Armenian authorities initiated moves to confiscate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets belonging to him and his family, citing a law that allows the state to seize properties deemed to have been acquired illegally.

As for the statue, Tsarukyan has not provided a definitive timeline for when it will be erected. When asked about the completion date, he simply remarked, "That depends on the will of God," leaving the future of the project somewhat uncertain.

While the statue is nearing completion, its ultimate fate remains unclear. The project continues to be a point of contention between Tsarukyan, the government, and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Whether it will become a new symbol of Armenian pride or remain a controversial chapter in the country’s history is yet to be seen.