The Virgin Mary statue Rising to a height of over 180 feet from ground level, the Virgin Mary statue in Poland’s Konotopie exceeds in height the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil and the Christ the King statue in Poland.
By Eduardo Berdejo
The largest Virgin Mary statue in Europe was dedicated on Saturday, Aug. 15, on the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Church in Poland dedicated this statue during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Krzysztof Wętkowski of Włocławek.
The monument stands 55.6 meters (182 feet) tall from ground level to its highest point. It was built in the town of Konotopie and funded by married couple Grażyna and Roman Karkosik, for whom it represents a “personal vow of thanksgiving for the recovery of their health and lives,” according to Euronews.
The dedication drew thousands of pilgrims to Konotopie, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church in Poland and across Europe.
Virgin Mary Statue Europe: Height and Comparisons
Its height exceeds that of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, which measures 38 meters (125 feet) from its base; it is also taller than the Christ the King of the Universe statue in Świebodzin, Poland, which stands 52.5 meters (172 feet) tall when measured from the mound upon which it rises.
According to Vatican News, the Virgin Mary statue in Poland depicts Our Lady of Mercy and is located near a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, which serves as a pilgrimage site. The bishop of Włocławek highlighted this during the blessing ceremony, noting that the site where the new monument stands “is no ordinary place; it is a place sanctified by the prayers of pilgrims.”
Design and Construction of the Konotopie Virgin Mary Statue
Construction followed the design of sculptor Adam Jakub Matejkowski. The pedestal is surrounded by eight pillars in the form of a crown. Additionally, pilgrims can go up to a terrace at a height of 15.3 meters (50 feet), from where the image of Mary itself rises.
Blessing Ceremony and Bishop’s Homily
In his homily, the prelate emphasized the importance of lifting oneʼs gaze toward heaven, especially in these times when many people “keep their eyes fixed solely on the earth and focus exclusively on themselves.”
Regarding the name of the new sculpture, Wętkowski noted that St. Faustina Kowalska, to whom Christ revealed his divine mercy, was born in Świnice Warckie, also within the Diocese of Włocławek, where she was baptized and received her first Communion.
“Here in Konotopie, Mary, in the image we see, welcomes us all; she leans toward us and opens her arms to invite us to lift our gaze upward, toward God and heaven,” Wętkowski noted.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the rosary and concluded with a shower of red rose petals dropped from two helicopters hovering over the monument.
The Diocese of Włocławek has a significant place in Polish Catholic history. The region has long been a centre of Marian devotion, and the erection of the statue continues a tradition of large-scale religious monuments in Poland. Poland remains one of the most Catholic nations in Europe, with approximately 85% of its population identifying as Catholic. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on which the statue was dedicated, is one of the most important feast days in the Polish Catholic calendar and is observed as a public holiday.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English and has been adapted and republished to EWTN Australia.
