Christ is Rising!

I live in an apartment building located next to a cultural theater (performance auditorium). When I walk to the central square, I walk behind the theater. When I first moved in and began taking this path I would often stop to watch an older man who was carving animals or crosses (khachkars) from stone in front of a house directly behind the theater. About two months ago a very different object began to grow. At first I thought that he was sculpting a mountain. It has now become the most amazing object. Jesus is rising!

The sculptor, Artush Papoyan, has been commissioned to create a bronze sculpture of Christ that will rest on the top of a Russian Orthodox Church in Syria (a Muslim country.) The church (not yet completed) is located on the slope of Mount Hermon (also known as Mount Sion in the bible). The location is in Syria where four countries intersect (Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan.) The hope is that it will become a place of pilgrimage for all religions.

The form for the statue is at least three stories high. About one block away through a densely packed neighborhood, the sculptor has a foundry. When I asked how the form (fashioned from Styrofoam and plaster) could possibly be moved, his son said that they will cut it into four pieces, lift it by military helicopter to the foundry, create the mold and cast it in bronze. In February, it will be lifted by helicopter to the Gyumri International (two flights to Russia once a week) Airport where the pieces will be transported by a Syrian military aircraft to Syria under the guidance of the Syrian President. The sculptor will then assemble the statue with a team on the top of the church.

The figure is of Christ with his arms held up (cross) and the thumb and fourth fingers touch in the orthodox blessing sign. This is usually done with just the right hand, but in this case they wanted a cross form. Christ has his foot on the head of a serpent and touching the foot is a statue of Adam with a submissive Eve at his side. It was in a city at the southern base of Mount Hermon that Jesus Christ told his disciples that he would build his church upon the Rock Peter. (A friend noted that Adam and Eve are clothed in this sculpture, which he feels is artistic license!)

The statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro is 125 feet tall. This statue is at least half that. One of these days I’ll remember to ask how tall it is. I feel like skipping every day as I gaze at this magnificent creation in my backyard. Maybe some day I’ll get to see it in its final resting place, as a pilgrim!

Note the sculptor on the top platform for an idea of how large this is!

Fully clothed model figure of Adam, which will be touching Christ's foot at the base of the statue.

Sculptor's son with model of statue in background.