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55-Meter Virgin Mary Statue Opens, Draws Thousands in Poland

8/14/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Virgin Mary statue was inaugurated on Saturday, August 15, 2026 in Konotopie, Poland.
The monument rises 55 meters, featuring a 40.6-meter figure on a 15-meter pedestal that serves as a viewing platform.
Roman Karkosik, a 75-year-old entrepreneur and Poland’s wealthiest person, financed the monument.
Officials reported that the statue has drawn thousands of visitors and boosted local restaurant and bar revenues.

History

Historical Context

In 1924 Heitor da Silva Costa won a Catholic-Church competition marking the centenary of Brazil’s 1822 independence to build a monumental Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. He collaborated with French sculptor Paul Landowski, who designed the statue’s head and hands, and the monument was inaugurated on 12 October 1931, inspiring worldwide interest in large devotional megasculptures.

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Story summary

The Virgin Mary statue was inaugurated on Saturday, August 15, 2026 in Konotopie, Poland.
The monument rises 55 meters, featuring a 40.6-meter figure on a 15-meter pedestal that serves as a viewing platform.
Roman Karkosik, a 75-year-old entrepreneur and Poland’s wealthiest person, financed the monument.
Officials reported that the statue has drawn thousands of visitors and boosted local restaurant and bar revenues.

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