Giant Jesus Now Looms Over Polish Town
- Posted on November 7, 2010 at 7:41am by
Scott Baker
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SWIEBODZIN, Poland (AP) — Workers have completed a giant statue of Jesus Christ in a small Polish town that its creators say ranks as the biggest in the world.
Hundreds of residents gathered to watch a towering crane lifting the crowned head onto the top of the statue in the town of Swiebodzin on Saturday.
The statue is the creation of a retired local priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki. Many local residents and business people in Swiebodzin (shvee-eh-BOHD’-jeen) say they hope it will put their town of 22,000 on the map for Roman Catholic pilgrims and bring in money to their community.
The statue’s completion had been delayed by strong winds.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
SWIEBODZIN, Poland (AP) — Workers in a small Polish town on Saturday lifted the shoulders and arms onto a giant statue of Jesus Christ that its creators say will be the biggest in the world.
After delays caused by strong winds, a towering crane lifted the massive piece and very slowly placed it onto the lower part of the figure’s body. Later in the day, workers hoped to finish assembling the statue by hoisting the head.
The statue is the creation of a retired local priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki. Many local residents and business people in Swiebodzin (shvee-eh-BOHD’-jeen) say they hope it will put their town of 22,000 on the map for Roman Catholic pilgrims and bring in money to their community.
“I’m thrilled,” said Emilia Zoladz, a 58-year-old economist watching the statue being assembled as she took cover from chilly drizzle at a shopping center across the street.
“The statue will make Swiebodzin famous all over Poland.”
Organizers say it will be the largest statue of Jesus in the world, rising even higher than Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. However, different people working on the project gave slightly differing measurements for the statue, and it was impossible to verify the claim.
An artist who worked on the design — which he said he modeled on the famous Brazilian Christ that towers over the beaches of Rio — put the total measurement at 167 feet (51 meters), including a mound it sits on and a golden king’s crown on the head. By comparison, the statue in Brazil’s Rio is 125 feet (38 meters) tall.
The artist would only give his first name, Tomek, saying he was afraid of having his last name made public until he knew for sure the statue would go up successfully.
The priest also refused to talk to reporters until the project is completed. An assistant, Hanna Sergiew, said the 78-year-old was exhausted and agitated and would only talk once the head is mounted.
The project has faced numerous problems along the way, and the “builder priest,” as Zawadzki is known, has had to persuade a skeptical bishop to let him go ahead with it. Government officials also suspended the project for some time, fearing the size made it unsafe.
More recently, an attempt to finally mount the figure had to be aborted because it turned out that the crane was not powerful enough to lift the arms and shoulders — weighing 30 tons (27 metric tons) — onto the standing body. A new crane has now arrived but further delays were caused this week by heavy winds.
A local resident watching the arms go on, Wladyslaw Greszta, said he was confident everything would work out. He lives just down the road and said he looked forward to having a view of the completed statue.
“This is a great thing,” said Greszta, 57, a retired tractor driver. “And this must be successful — there are no other options. Our priest has already had one heart attack and if this doesn’t work out, he will die.”
_____
Marta Kucharska contributed to this report.
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Comments (52)
Masamune
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 12:52pmI may have to go to Poland sometime in the future now. This would be quite a sight to see indeed.
Report Post »Benetto
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:05pmHey Mr. Obama… Poland found the HOPE that you will NEVER be able to deliver!
Report Post »Tony Nagy
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:09am@BENETTO….. Very, very wise words indeed…. Remember Poland has gone through a lot in their history…. They are showing the world the answer….. Do not be blinded…. follow the truth, it will set you free !!!
Report Post »mimitweetin
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:40amTouche’!
Report Post »HUGE FRONTAL LOBE
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:12pmHow many Polaks does it take to erect Jesus?…2!…One to supply the Viagra; one to dress up as Mary Magdalene! He looks hard as concrete.
IndoKindje
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:16pmIt’s all about Jesus! The beginning, the present and the future!
Report Post »mermaid7
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 7:27pmAmazing that Poland can erect a statue of Christ, and yet, we have the 1st Amendment here in the U.S.
This statue would be a bullseye for a lawsuit by the ACLU. The atheist group loves to deny our right to do so. They choose to omit the phrase that government “shall not prohibit” the free exercize of religion.
The want to prohibit any voice of religion to pacify the 10% of the population that doesn’t believe in anything.
One can say they also prohibit the “right of free speech”. But then again, most liberals allow speech if it concurs with their theology and want to silence anything else.
Report Post »Allarius
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 4:18pmWorship God, not statues.
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:31pmNobodys worshiping the statue. Thats so old. Do you have a picture of your mother? Why, do you love the picture? No, you love who the picture represents. Silly comment.
Report Post »Sion
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 3:38pm2 Corinthians 2:17 (New International Version)
17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
2 Peter 2:3 (New Living Translation)
3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
They said it themselves, they did not build the statue to honor Jesus, but to put their town on the map and to bring in the money. The Word of God condemns this sort of thing.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 3:32pmPraise God ….
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 3:00pmThis makes me smile. For whatever reason is was erected, it is there. We are free in this country to call each other names for our beliefs (see some of the above statements) & show our anger towards each other. But our freedom to express our religious beliefs via crosses or public prayer etc… is slowly eroding. It’s time for a revival. God Bless America.
Report Post »In God We Trust
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:53pmImpressive!
Report Post »jedi.kep
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:35pmI love the statue. Open arms. King of Kings welcoming anyone and everyone into the kingdom, just as it should be. Beautiful workmanship. The gold crown on top is also a nice touch.
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:19pmThis has to be driving the liberals around the world mental this morning, the one‘s that haven’t already ‘made the trip’ that is.
Report Post »libertyordeath87
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:35pmGlory to Christ our Savior!!! I think this is terrific, a signal of hope and light in an ever increasingly dark world.
Report Post »NJConservativeGal
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:54amI want one for my yard. I had a beautiful angel that stood about 4 ft and some schmuck took it and I haven’t replaced it yet. So I think I will look for a Jesus or Saint Francis of Assisi statue to replace my angel. Poland should be proud of themselves. Absolutely beautiful.
Report Post »bob11123
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:36amGod Bless Poland!
Report Post »Art Vandalay
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:15amNow the muslim terrorist have a new target, those damn mongolians!
Report Post »Bigbird1960
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:47amWhy cant there be a hunting progressives day, once a year to thin out the population. We have seen what happens when the population is unchecked.
Report Post »JohnnyJT
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:41amGod Bless.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:31amWell I know that this wouldn’t go over here in the U.S. Because the atheists would have a field day with it. But hopefully and prayerfully we can get this country back on the road to following Christ instead of our leaders. We have been silent to long and we need to speak up and be counted.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:32ami don’t have a problem with christians building monuments to their faith. Some of them are quite beautiful (the cathedrals, sistine chapel, etc). Many mosques are quite striking too in their architecture.
Giant effegies of jesus, to me, are a little tacky though. Especially when they depict jesus with anglo features. It is fair to assume that jesus didn‘t look anything like that for there were no Anglo’s in that region during that time period.
But, hey, religious folks have no problem with suspending their disbelief in order to perpetuate whatever myth they want perpetuated.
if it tickles your pickle….
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:38pmIt’s not as bad as all that. Most of the anti-christian zealots are in politics so it just makes it seem like a more widespread problem. The people themselves are still overwhelmingly supportive of all religions right to express themselves.
Here‘s one example that I pass on my way to my brother’s house when I go visit him.
Report Post »http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10913
hisuelos
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:23amAWESOME! Perhaps we AMERICANS can follow suit? Have you checked out the cross and works in Texas in the Panhandle? There are still CHRISTIANS alive and well in the United States of America. Courage, guys, “The King IS Coming”! GOD BLESS YOU, POLAND!
Report Post »UnkaB
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:12amI hope the ACLU and other religion haters (Bill Maher types) have got their panties up their rear ends so far it will take them months to undo them.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:36amI wonder what the ACLU would be screaming when the Lord Jesus comes to get his followers upon the clouds of glory…will they say “Seperation of church and state!!” or some other such nonsense before falling to their knees and confess ‘jesus is indeed lord.’
It will be interesting to see.
Report Post »lqtm
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:10pmWhat a Christ-like thing to desire.
Report Post »A Steiger
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:40pm@LQTM
Why do you care if it’s a “Christ-like” thing to desire or not? You don’t believe in anything.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:58amWhere is the ACLU, this is an outrage
Report Post »Dotski
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:44pmYou are an A..HOLE, this is not your country so mind your own business. BLESS THE POLES FOR SHOWING THEIR LOVE OF JESUS!!
Report Post »Neuhouser
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:20pmobvious troll is obvious
Report Post »takemout
Posted on November 8, 2010 at 1:14pm“Separation of Church and State” … “Separation of Church and State”! What? It’s Poland? Uhh … never mind …
Report Post »stinkybisquit
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:55amMeanwhile in Rio de Janeiro, a 125‘ radio antenna slowly begins to rise from Jesus’ right hand…
Report Post »Skwerl E. Muckenfutch
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:46amGreat googly moogly! That is one big Jesus.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 7:59pmI heard them say on TV guess where it is ….well I knew it wasn’t in the U.S. or we would have heard of the protests and calls to block/remove it. Sad that people can’t express themselves in America as they choose.
Report Post »LSX
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:28amCool!
Amazing workmanship.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:40amAmazing that in Poland they can erect this giant statue of Christ and here in Az the A-hole athiests pulled down a memorial to fallen soldiers. It was a big iron cross, not nearly as big as polands’ Christ , I think it was only about 8′ tall and it was way out in the desert bolted into some rocks. The creeps couldn’t bear the thought of a Christian symbol there and they came in the dark of night and pulled it down. Thank God there is a place in the world where christians can have freedom of religion too.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:27am@Untamable Kate
I know the feeling, these atheists pulling it out need a good whipping with the choya cactus while being steaked out to an anthill and honey covering their bodies. They disgrace our fallen heros, and disgrace the living ones who serve or have served as well.
We must never forget the ones who gave and are giving so much for the rest of us to be free.
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:20amPoland is our true allies in Europe, always have been. They’re the only country over there that really appreciates us and rarely bad mouths us.
I’m planning a trip there next spring to help boost their tourism. A lot of great history there.
Report Post »Anarcho Capitalist
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:52am“The statue is the creation of a retired local priest, Rev. Sylwester Zawadzki. Many local residents and business people in Swiebodzin (shvee-eh-BOHD’-jeen) say they hope it will put their town of 22,000 on the map for Roman Catholic pilgrims and bring in money to their community.”
Ha!! So they didn’t do it for the glory of God?
Give to Jesus through me! I will personally deliver your holy gift into the hands of the lord. For I have seen the light, I have been to the promise land of milk and honey.
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:44pmYes, Kate.
Report Post »It would seem that here, in the “land of the free and home of the brave”, we have less freedom to express our religion than they do in countries without our democratic history.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:29pmHey, look. A graven image.
Last check, God wasn’t too keen on graven images.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I The Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My Commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6 KJV)
Huh.
Blacktooth
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:40pmyes, just another idol to worship.
Report Post »lqtm
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:21pmI’m an atheist and I have no problem with this statue, I simply don’t believe in God. I do have a problem with people saying things like “these atheists pulling it out need a good whipping with the choya cactus while being steaked out to an anthill and honey covering their bodies. They disgrace our fallen heros, and disgrace the living ones who serve or have served as well.”
What a Christ-like thing to say.
Say a fallen American soldier is a Muslim, don’t you think representing fallen soldiers with a Christian cross is a bit presumptuous? It is obvious from the way you think of atheists as some kind of organized group, that you don‘t understand what you’re talking about. Contrary to popular belief, there ARE atheists in foxholes. Just because you disagree with somebody does not mean that they are unamerican, unpatriotic, or at all a disgrace to the men and women of our military.
It is in fact the efforts of those men and women who defend an atheists right to assert his belief, and not worry that some bigoted and hateful Christian is going to be able to have him punished under religious law. That’s how they do it in the middle east. The law is largely based on their book of God.
But here you are, assuming we all hate religion right?
You’re an ass.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:12pmI believe in “point of view”. what is in my heart is what I am. I’m sure some of the folks will have an inspirational experience when they see the big old statue. Good for them. There is danger in idolatry.
Report Post »old testament teachings.
Robert W
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:29pmSounds good to me.
Report Post »A Steiger
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:39pm@LQTM
Why do you care if someone isn’t acting “Christ-like”? You don’t believe in anything.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 6:15pm@ UNTAMEABLE-KATE
The same thing happened here in CA in the Mojave Desert , they stole the Cross which it was dedicated to our Fallen Heroes for the last 75 years .
Report Post »