Gagik Tsarukyan, Armenia's most flamboyant business tycoon and opposition politician, is building the world's tallest statue of Jesus Christ atop a 2,500-metre mountain overlooking Yerevan. The 101-metre (331ft) monument, under construction since 2022, is designed to dwarf Brazil's Christ the Redeemer and stand taller than New York's Statue of Liberty.
Tsarukyan's Vision for Armenia
Tsarukyan, who secured less than 4% of the vote in this month's parliamentary election, sees the statue as Armenia's new calling card. "Christianity will become Armenia's new brand," he said during an interview at his estate in Arinj. He hopes the project will resonate with a global movement blending religious faith, nationalism and cultural conservatism, citing Donald Trump's MAGA movement and far-right European parties.
The statue, once completed, will be visible from much of Yerevan. Tsarukyan claims it will attract 10 million tourists annually. "There's nothing else like it in the world. From ocean to ocean, everyone will be talking about it," he said.
Controversy and Criticism
The Armenian Apostolic Church has opposed the project, arguing its scale and style clash with Armenia's religious and architectural traditions. Church leaders note that Armenian Christianity historically expresses itself through monasteries, churches and khachkars (carved stone crosses), not colossal statues.
Environmentalists also criticize the project, warning of lasting damage to the natural landscape of Mount Hatis. Tsarukyan dismisses these objections, pointing to the eight churches he has financed across the country.
Tsarukyan's Background
A former athlete turned businessman, Tsarukyan built his fortune in gambling, alcohol and mining after the Soviet collapse. His private zoo, marble mansions and fleet of luxury cars have made him a symbol of post-Soviet oligarchic excess. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who rose to power in the 2018 Velvet Revolution, has repeatedly cast Tsarukyan as emblematic of the corrupt old order.
Following the election, Pashinyan vowed to jail political opponents, and investigators charged Tsarukyan with tax offences. Tsarukyan denies the allegations and says he was prevented from boarding a flight to the UAE.
Logistics and Future Plans
The statue's construction has faced logistical challenges. Initially planned for helicopter transport, sections are now hauled up the mountain by truck. Tsarukyan has also begun building a giant Noah's Ark nearby, measuring 134 metres long, 24 metres wide and 18 metres high, which will house a museum, hotel and cafe.
Despite criticism, Tsarukyan remains undeterred. "These projects are sacred," he said. "This is how I will inscribe my name in history, for the world to see during my lifetime and long after." Public opinion is divided, with some praising the statue as a source of national pride and others calling it crass.
