An enormous statue of the Virgin Mary, taller than Brazil's Christ the Redeemer, has appeared outside a village in Poland. Hundreds of people attended a ceremony blessing the 183ft monument on Saturday, which saw helicopters scatter miniature red roses over the crowd, priests in white robes give mass, and a folk ensemble perform traditional Polish music.
Tallest in Europe
The statue depicts the Mother of God standing on a plinth and now towers above the village of Konotopie, home to just 120 people. It is believed to be the tallest depiction of Mary in Europe, surpassing the Christ the King statue in Swiebodzin, Poland, which stands at 170ft and was unveiled in 2010.
At 183ft, it is also taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, which stands at 125ft. Brazil's famous monument, however, reaches higher up as it sits atop a 2,330ft hill.
Commissioned by millionaire couple
The statue was commissioned by local millionaires Roman and Grażyna Karkosik, who live in a small palace a few miles from Konotopie. Roman Karkosik, an entrepreneur whose ventures included plastic-bottle manufacturing in the 1990s, amassed a fortune through stock market investments in the post-communist era to become one of Poland's wealthiest people.
Grażyna Karkosik said the statue is an offering for the miraculous recovery of her husband, who survived a severe stroke several years ago despite a grim prognosis from doctors. She said: "The statue will be for all people. Each of us coming to see it will think more deeply about their own lives, not only about God."
Blessing and opening
The statue features a viewing platform built inside its pedestal. A Catholic Mass took place at the site on Saturday before the statue was consecrated and officially opened to the public. Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski, who blessed the statue, said it would help believers "raise our gaze upwards to God and heaven".
Lech Walesa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership of the Polish anti-communist resistance as head of the Solidarity trade union before becoming president, had a front row seat during the inauguration ceremony. He told reporters: "This is the end of my path. I started with the Virgin Mary and I end with the Virgin Mary."
Cost and future plans
The three-year project cost between 80 million Euros (£15 million) and 100 million Euros (£19 million), according to Polish media. It was privately funded by Roman Karkosik and his wife, though the project received the backing of the local Catholic church. Local authorities have said they hope the monument will become a major pilgrimage site and a tourist destination.
The new Our Lady of Mercy statue stands at a site that has long drawn visitors to a nearby historic chapel, linking the new monument to an existing pilgrimage path. "The place where we stand is no ordinary place; it holds deep significance because of the generations of travellers who have journeyed here," said Krzysztof Wętkowski, representing the Diocese of Włocławek, during the statue's dedication ceremony.
The influence of the Catholic church has gradually declined in Poland in recent years after experiencing a revival following the fall of communism. While weekly mass attendance was recorded at 32% in one recent survey, the same poll also found 86% of people expressed a belief in God. Bishop Wiesław Mering said in the opening ceremony: "The history of Christianity has ups and downs but this place is a reminder that Mary won't give up on Poland."
There is a taller statue of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines, which stands at around 322 feet, but the new one in Poland is believed to be the largest of its kind in Europe.
