Christ the Protector (Portuguese: Cristo Protetor) is a statue of Jesus Christ constructed in Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.[2]

Christ the Protector
Portuguese: Cristo Protetor
ArtistGenésio Gomes Moura, Markus Moura[1]
Completion dateApril 22, 2022
SubjectJesus
Dimensions43 m × 27 m (140 ft × 90 ft)
LocationEncantado, Brazil
Websitehttps://cristoencantado.com.br/

The statue was started in 2019, and completed on April 22, 2022,[1][3] with a height of 43 m (140 ft) with its pedestal, making it the world's third tallest Jesus statue[4] (after Christ Blessing and Christ the King, Świebodzin) and 5m taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.[5] Construction began in 2019 and was the idea of local mayor Adroaldo Conzatti, who died of COVID-19 in March 2021.[6][5]

The Friends of Christ Association (AACristo) organization funded the $350,000 to build it from donations and also oversaw the construction of the statue.[3][5][1] The venue will be open to the public sometime in 2023, said Robison Gonzatti, AACristo's vice president.[7]

Though the surrounding tourist complex is still under construction, visitors can visit the statue up close during Saturdays, Sundays and Brazilian holidays as indicated in their website.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Guy, Jack; Cotovio, Vasco; Pedroso, Rodrigo; Street, Francesca (May 3, 2022). "Brazil has a towering new statue of Jesus". CNN Travel. CNN. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  2. ^ Recker, Jane. "A New Statue of Jesus Is the World's Tallest—for Now". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  3. ^ a b Land, Olivia (May 10, 2022). "Town in Brazil completes Jesus statue 'Christ the Protector'". NY Post. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  4. ^ Chang, Rachel (May 4, 2022). "This Statue Is Now the Third Tallest Monument of Christ in the World — and Will Open to Visitors in 2023". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  5. ^ a b c "New Christ statue in Brazil's Encantado to be taller than Rio's". BBC News. BBC. April 11, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  6. ^ "Brazil's giant Christ the Protector statue will tower above Rio's". The South African. Agence France-Presse. October 4, 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  7. ^ "Brazilian town builds Christ statue taller than Rio's". Reuters. Reuters. May 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  8. ^ "Cristo Protetor". Cristo Protetor, Encantado. Retrieved 2022-12-18.