The small Polish town of Konotopie, near Toruń, is finalizing the construction of a monumental image of the Virgin of Mercy which, at 55.6 meters in height, will become the tallest Marian figure in Europe. The statue will be solemnly blessed on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and will be open to the faithful and visitors.
The ceremony will begin at 12:00 with a Mass presided over by the Bishop of Włocławek, Krzysztof Wętkowski. Its promoters hope that the complex will become a new destination for pilgrimage and religious tourism in Poland, around the sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows, which for years has welcomed faithful from different parts of the country.
A 55.6-meter image
The figure will surpass in height other great European religious monuments and also the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, which, including its pedestal, reaches approximately 38.5 meters. It will not, however, be the largest Marian monument in the world, a title that belongs to the statue Mother of All Asia – Tower of Peace, located in the Philippines and whose structure exceeds 98 meters including the base.
Inside the Konotopie image, an elevator has been installed that will allow access to a panoramic terrace from which visitors can contemplate the surrounding landscape. To erect the monument, approximately 2,500 cubic meters of concrete have been used, while parking areas, green spaces, and technical facilities are being prepared in the surroundings to accommodate pilgrims.
The project was carried out by sculptor Adam Jakub Matejkowski. Work began in 2025 and had its symbolic start with the laying of the foundation act on March 12 of that year. At this moment, the final finishing work on the statue and the conditioning of the grounds are being carried out before its inauguration.
Inspired by a small local image
The monumental figure is inspired by a small image of the Virgin of Mercy venerated in the Konotopie sanctuary. The carving measures barely 55 centimeters, but for years it has occupied a prominent place in the devotion of the faithful in the area.
The promoters of the initiative are businessman Roman Karkosik and his wife, Grażyna, who have presented the construction as a personal vote of thanksgiving. Those responsible for the project insist that the main purpose of the complex is religious, although they trust that its dimensions and characteristics will also arouse the interest of those who come for architectural or tourist reasons.
The monument already attracts visitors
Although it has not yet been officially inaugurated, the figure has already become a point of attraction. Its silhouette is visible from National Road number 10, which leads numerous drivers to stop nearby to contemplate and photograph it. Other visitors travel expressly to Konotopie and share images and videos of the construction on social networks, increasing the notoriety of the town.