{"id":22783,"date":"2026-06-21T17:17:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T14:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=22783"},"modified":"2026-06-21T17:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T14:17:14","slug":"gagik-tsarukyan-statuya-isusa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/gagik-tsarukyan-statuya-isusa\/","title":{"rendered":"Gagik Tsarukyan is building the world\u2019s largest statue of Jesus in Armenia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"news-lead\">Armenian oligarch Hagik Tsarukyan has begun construction of the world\u2019s largest statue of Jesus Christ, standing 101 metres tall on Mount Khatis, a move that has provoked mixed reactions among the public.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\">\n<div class=\"summary-title\">Briefly about the main points<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Gagik Tsarukyan is building the world\u2019s largest statue of Jesus.<\/li>\n<li>The statue will be 101 metres tall and will be situated on Mount Khatis.<\/li>\n<li>The Armenian Apostolic Church opposes the project.<\/li>\n<li>There are plans to build Noah\u2019s Ark next to the monument.<\/li>\n<li>The project has sparked a debate between tourism advocates and those who champion tradition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The world\u2019s largest statue of Jesus<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Gagik Tsarukyan<\/strong>, a well-known Armenian businessman and politician, decided to build the world\u2019s largest statue <strong>Jesus Christ<\/strong>. The 101-metre-high monument is to be erected on Mount Khatis, located approximately 25 kilometres from Yerevan. According to Tsarukyan\u2019s vision, the statue will become a new symbol of Armenia and attract tourists from all over the world. This was reported <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jun\/21\/armenian-tycoon-private-zoo-worlds-biggest-jesus-statue-gagik-tsarukyan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reports<\/a> publication <em><strong>The Guardian<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px !important; font-style: italic !important; color: #444444 !important; line-height: 1.6 !important; text-transform: none !important; border-left: 4px solid #888888 !important; padding-left: 18px !important; margin: 25px 0 !important; display: block !important;\">\u00abWe are the oldest Christian nation in the world. It is only logical that we should have the largest statue of Jesus,\u00bb said Tsarukyan.<\/p>\n<h2>From a private zoo to a magnificent monument<\/h2>\n<p>Gagik Tsarukyan is known not only for his businesses in the gambling and mining sectors, but also for his luxurious residence near Yerevan, which features a private zoo. However, despite his political party\u2019s poor performance in the recent elections, he believes that religious projects, in particular the statue of Jesus, will be his main legacy.<\/p>\n<h2>The Church and environmentalists are opposed to<\/h2>\n<p>The idea of erecting the statue has met with a mixed reaction. The Armenian Apostolic Church has repeatedly spoken out against the project, pointing out that traditional Armenian Christian culture is expressed through monasteries and churches, rather than through giant statues. Environmental organisations have also warned of potential damage to the natural landscape of Mount Khatis.<\/p>\n<p>Tsarukyan insists that he maintains good relations with the clergy and has already funded the construction of eight churches in Armenia.<\/p>\n<h2>Noah\u2019s Ark will appear nearby<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Statue of Jesus<\/strong> \u2014 is just part of the businessman\u2019s ambitious plan. Alongside the monument, there are plans to build a giant Noah\u2019s Ark, which will be 134 metres long. Inside, there will be a museum, a hotel and a caf\u00e9 for tourists. Tsarukyan hopes that the complex will become an international tourist attraction.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_22784\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22784\" style=\"width: 965px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot_1-45.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22784\" src=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot_1-45-300x195.png\" alt=\"The construction of a giant Noah\u2019s Ark.\" width=\"965\" height=\"627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot_1-45-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot_1-45-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Screenshot_1-45.png 619w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 965px) 100vw, 965px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-22784\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tsarukyan has already begun building a giant Noah\u2019s Ark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Why it matters<\/h2>\n<p>The project for the world\u2019s largest statue of Jesus has become a symbol of the dispute between supporters of large-scale investment in tourism and defenders of Armenia\u2019s historical and religious traditions. If construction is completed, the monument could become one of the most famous landmarks in the Caucasus.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0412\u0456\u0440\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043e\u043b\u0456\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0445 \u0413\u0430\u0433\u0456\u043a \u0426\u0430\u0440\u0443\u043a\u044f\u043d \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043f\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0432 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0456\u0432\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0442\u0432\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0431\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0457 \u0443 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0456 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u0457 \u0406\u0441\u0443\u0441\u0430 \u0425\u0440\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0430 \u0437\u0430\u0432\u0432\u0438\u0448\u043a\u0438 101 \u043c\u0435\u0442\u0440 \u043d\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0456 \u0425\u0430\u0442\u0456\u0441, \u0449\u043e \u0432\u0438\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u043d\u0456 \u0440\u0435\u0430\u043a\u0446\u0456\u0457 \u0432 \u0441\u0443\u0441\u043f\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0456. \u041a\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u043a\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0435 \u0413\u0430\u0433\u0456\u043a \u0426\u0430\u0440\u0443\u043a\u044f\u043d \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0443\u0454 \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0431\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0443 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0406\u0441\u0443\u0441\u0430 \u0443 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0456. \u0421\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u044f \u043c\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043c\u0435 \u0432\u0438\u0441\u043e\u0442\u0443 101 \u043c\u0435\u0442\u0440 \u0456 \u0440\u043e\u0437\u0442\u0430\u0448\u043e\u0432\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043c\u0435\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u043d\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0456 \u0425\u0430\u0442\u0456\u0441. \u0412\u0456\u0440\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430 \u0430\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0430 \u0446\u0435\u0440\u043a\u0432\u0430 \u0432\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0430\u0454 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0438 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0454\u043a\u0442\u0443. \u041f\u043e\u0440\u044f\u0434 \u0437 \u043c\u043e\u043d\u0443\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u043e\u043c \u043f\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0443\u044e\u0442\u044c [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207433346,"featured_media":22782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_description":"\u0413\u0430\u0433\u0456\u043a \u0426\u0430\u0440\u0443\u043a\u044f\u043d \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043f\u043e\u0447\u0430\u0432 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0456\u0432\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0442\u0432\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0431\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0457 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u0457 \u0406\u0441\u0443\u0441\u0430 \u0443 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0456 \u043d\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0456 \u0425\u0430\u0442\u0456\u0441, \u0449\u043e \u0432\u0438\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043b\u043e \u0441\u0443\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0447\u043a\u0438 \u0437 \u0446\u0435\u0440\u043a\u0432\u043e\u044e \u0442\u0430 \u0435\u043a\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0433\u0430\u043c\u0438.","rank_math_title":"\u0413\u0430\u0433\u0456\u043a \u0426\u0430\u0440\u0443\u043a\u044f\u043d \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0443\u0454 \u043d\u0430\u0439\u0431\u0456\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0443 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0406\u0441\u0443\u0441\u0430 \u0443 \u0441\u0432\u0456\u0442\u0456","rank_math_focus_keyword":"\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0406\u0441\u0443\u0441\u0430","td_subtitle":"","subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[805619],"tags":[805624],"class_list":{"0":"post-22783","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-805624"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207433346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22783"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22785,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22783\/revisions\/22785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}