Polish billionaire to build massive Virgin Mary statue, taller than Rio's Christ the Redeemer

A monumental statue of Our Lady of Sorrows is currently under construction in the Polish village of Konotopie and is scheduled for consecration on August 15, 2026, the Feast of the Assumption. Reaching a total height of over 55 meters, it will officially become the tallest monument of its kind in Europe. Funded entirely by philanthropists Grażyna and Roman Karkosik as a private votive offering of gratitude, the complex will feature a 15-meter-high viewing terrace shaped like a crown to welcome both pilgrims and tourists.
The grand monument is being erected at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows, a site with deep historical and unique ecumenical roots dating back to 1885. The sanctuary's history began when an Evangelical landowner built a roadside chapel housing a small, 55-centimeter wooden Pietà carved by an unknown folk artist. Decades later, this historic site is being transformed into a major spiritual landmark, beautifully blending centuries-old local devotion with grand modern architecture.