Armenian oligarch seeks to build world's largest Jesus statue

Armenian businessman and politician Gagik Tsarukyan plans to erect a 101-meter-tall Jesus statue on a mountaintop overlooking the capital Yerevan.

Gagik Tsarukyan, 69, initiated the project to construct the world's largest Jesus statue in 2022. After four years, the massive upper body of the statue now stands prominently amidst the surrounding landscape.

Upon completion, the 101-meter-tall statue will be located on Mount Hatis, about 25 km east of Yerevan. This strategic placement will allow residents in the capital to see the statue from all directions. Tsarukyan believes this monument will overshadow Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue and stand slightly taller than New York's Statue of Liberty.

The upper body of the Jesus statue in Armenia. Photo: Guardian

A former athlete who transitioned into business and politics, Tsarukyan amassed wealth across various sectors and is considered Armenia's third-richest person, though his exact net worth remains undisclosed.

Tsarukyan stated that the Jesus statue project aims to resonate with a growing movement that blends religious faith with nationalism and conservative culture. This trend is evident in former US President Donald Trump's MAGA movement and among far-right parties across Europe.

Tsarukyan's estate, located on the outskirts of Yerevan, features six tigers, three lions, and a crocodile enclosure. His dining room showcases a collection of animals he has hunted, including white tigers, eagles, and bears.

This scene partly reflects the taste of Tsarukyan, founder of the Prosperous Armenia party. He has long been known for his penchant for ostentatious displays of wealth.

A swan pond on Mr. Tsarukyan's estate on the outskirts of the Armenian capital. Photo: Guardian

Lions in the zoo on the estate grounds. Photo: Guardian

Mr. Tsarukyan's collection of hunted taxidermied animals. Photo: Guardian

Despite securing less than 4% of the vote in the last parliamentary election, Tsarukyan remains determined to leave his mark on the nation with the world's largest Jesus statue.

"This will be Armenia's business card," Tsarukyan said during an interview at his home in Arinj village, his birthplace. "Christianity will become Armenia's new brand."

"We are the oldest Christian nation in the world," Tsarukyan affirmed. "Therefore, it is entirely logical for us to possess the world's largest Jesus statue."

Situated among predominantly Muslim countries, Armenia is recognized as the world's oldest Christian nation, having converted in 301.

However, the Armenian Apostolic Church has consistently opposed the project. They argue that its immense scale and style are incompatible with Armenia's religious and architectural traditions.

Armenian businessman and politician Tsarukyan. Photo: Guardian

Church leaders explained that Armenian Christianity has historically been expressed through monasteries, churches, and khachkar — intricately carved stone crosses characteristic of Armenia — rather than through colossal statues mimicking structures found elsewhere in the world.

Tsarukyan's project has also drawn criticism from environmentalists, who warn that the construction process could inflict long-term damage on Mount Hatis' natural landscape.

Tsarukyan dismisses these concerns, stating that the statue is designed to attract worshippers from around the globe, not just Armenia. He projects 10 million visitors annually to the site.

"Nowhere else in the world is anything like it. Everyone will talk about it," he asserted.

He noted that the immediate challenge is transporting the Jesus statue up the mountain. The initial plan to airlift sections by helicopter was canceled in favor of a traditional solution: using trucks to transport parts to the summit for on-site assembly.

Tsarukyan stated that the Jesus statue is only the beginning. He hopes to invite former US President Donald Trump to visit the statue and revealed that a delegation from the US embassy has already toured the construction site.

Even before the statue's completion, Tsarukyan has embarked on another tourist attraction project: a giant Noah's Ark, 134 meters long, 24 meters wide, and 18 meters high, featuring a museum on the ground floor, a hotel on the middle floor, and a cafe on the upper floor.

"These projects are sacred," he said. "This is how I will engrave my name in history."