Statue of Jesus Christ, Statue in Kotayk Province, Armenia
The Statue of Jesus Christ is a large white sculpture placed on the summit of Mount Hatis in Kotayk Province, Armenia, at an elevation of roughly 2,500 meters (about 8,200 feet). It is made of white material and can be seen from wide areas of the surrounding terrain.
The project began in 2022 when a public competition was launched to choose the design. Sculptor Armen Samvelyan won with his proposal, which was selected through a combination of public voting and jury review.
Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion, and this figure on Mount Hatis makes that faith visible to anyone who reaches the summit. The open-armed pose is meant to welcome both pilgrims and hikers alike.
Reaching the summit of Mount Hatis requires physical effort, as the paths are steep and the air is thinner at this elevation. Spring and autumn tend to offer the most manageable conditions, while winter snow and summer heat can make the ascent harder.
The design for the statue was chosen in part through SMS voting, meaning ordinary citizens could cast a vote on what the monument would look like. This kind of direct public involvement in a project of this scale is very rare.
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