Christ the Redeemer

Christianity is the largest religion in the world that has nearly 2 billion believers around
the globe. The message of Christianity spread for more than over 2000 years and we can say that
today there is no part of the globe that hadn’t heard of Jesus Christ.

In South America Christianity comes after great geographical discoveries. It was

opportunity for a multitude of Europeans to come to this region. With them they were carrying
their faith which they start to practice in new lands. Local population started to interfere with
newcomers and Christianity started to spread. Christians have for centuries expressed their
devotion through icons or through the abundance of handicrafts, but the Brazilians have done
something really special.

When you have over 200 million inhabitants and yours territory is the fifth largest in the
world, you know you're great. When you have the seventh strongest economy in the world, you
know you are even greater. But when yours second largest city have one of the seven new
wonders of the world, you know you're special.

The statue of Christ the Savior is located in Rio de Janeiro and is 30 meters high without
the base, which adds eight more. Range with open arms is almost the same as the height - 28
meters, the entire monument weighs 635 tons, and its production lasted almost a decade. Located
above the city, this monument became a symbol of Brazilian Christianity, as well as one of the
most visited tourist sites in the country.

The idea of a large statue on Corcovado hill was created in the fifties of the 19th century,
when Catholic priest Pedro Maria Ross proposed this idea to Princess Isabel. She was not
interested, but the final decision on rejection came after some 40 years later, in 1889, when
Brazil became a republic and when the laws of the church were completely separate from the
state. However, Catholics were not so easy to give up on the idea to have something to
symbolize their faith, and the second wave followed in the early 20th century.

Catholic people of Rio so insisted on the implementation of this idea, that in 1920
organized a week Monuments (Semana do Monumento) to collect donations and signatures of
Brazilian Catholics to support the construction of the statue. This time they succeeded and
money was collected for developing a project of one of the most recognizable symbols of Brazil.
Many people from different parts of the world have been working on the design of this
magnificent monument. Local engineer, Eitor da Silva Costa designed the statue; sculptor was
Pol Landovski, a Pole born in Paris.

Head of the Jesus was made by the Romanian sculptor George Leonida and it made him
famous. A group of engineers and technicians studied the proposal from Landovski and decided
that the construction of the statue be made of reinforced concrete, rather than steel. The external
parts are made of a special kind of chalk, and she was chosen because of its durability and ease
of use. Also, it has been decided to be turned so that his palms were directed to the north and
south.

Work began in 1922 and ended in 1931, and the official opening was on the 12th of
October of the same year. Due to its size, it was made from parts, and they were brought to
Corcovado only when they were finished, and assembled there. The final bill was 250,000
dollars, which is now about 3.3 million dollars. It was planned that radio inventor, Marconi, who
was in Rome at that time, start the illumination of statue. However, due to bad weather
conditions, the signal was weak, so it needed to be done by workers in Rio.

It's hard to describe what this artwork means for the largest country in South America.
First, every tourist who comes to Rio, apart from Copacabana, Ipanema, Sambodroma and
Maracana, simply must visit Corcovado. Just for you to know, this trip will in cheapest version
be costing $ 72.

Second, we will not exaggerate if we say that this Brazilian city became world known
because of this statue. Many first think of Christ the Savior when they mention Rio. Some of
them use tattoos to immortalize their visit. And third, most important, this monument is the
embodiment and symbol of religion, tradition and culture that Brazilians have. Christ the Savior
is keeping the citizens of Rio de Janeiro safe for almost 80 years. There is to convince them of
the security offered by faith in God; that they come together when they are in trouble and remind
them on the fight that led Catholic community. The statue of Christ is not only the Ombudsman,
but also the cultural and religious heritage of the city and the state.

Jesus, the Savior stands today, and will continue to stand. Many still find him interesting
as was on the opening day, and among them was Felix Baumgartner. The man who became
famous for his jump from the edge of the universe, before that enterprise engaged in the BASE
jumping. Baumgartner also enrolled in his career jump from arm of Christ the Savior.