Statue of Mary

In Konotopie, a small village in north-central Poland (near Toruń, approx. 190 km northwest of Warsaw), the largest statue of the Virgin Mary in Europe has stood since August 2026. The monument, dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy (Polish: Matka Boża Miłosierdzia), is 55.6 meters tall, including a 15-meter-high, crown-shaped pedestal; the figure itself measures 40.6 meters. This makes it taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro (38 m with pedestal) and the Polish Christ the King monument in Świebodzin (52 m).

The statue was commissioned by local entrepreneur Roman Karkosik and his wife Grażyna, one of the wealthiest couples in Poland. They call it a token of gratitude (votum) for Karkosik's recovery from illness. The construction costs are estimated at approximately 100 million zloty (about 23 million euros). The statue is made of reinforced concrete and steel; the designer is the Polish sculptor Adam Jakub Matejkowski.

On August 15, 2026, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, the monument was consecrated by a local bishop, in the presence of, among others, former trade union leader Lech Wałęsa. A viewing terrace with panoramic views of the lakes and forests surrounding Konotopie is incorporated into the crown. With only approximately 120–150 inhabitants, the village hopes that the statue will attract pilgrims and tourists. Reactions are mixed: some view it as a spiritual beacon, others as too grand or kitschy.

Pascal Brackman