A statue in Guinness World Records

The statue of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus in Haskovo, Bulgaria, holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest statue of its kind in the world. The impressive statue is 14 metres tall, stands on a 17-metre pedestal and weighs 80 tonnes. Situated at the top of Youth Hill, it depicts the Virgin and Child and offers an outstanding view over the town.
Made of polymer concrete, the statue combines a monument with an Orthodox chapel. The chapel occupies the interior of the 17-metre pedestal. Thanks to this impressive creation, Haskovo entered the religious section of Guinness World Records in 2004.
The idea for the monument came from Georgi Ivanov, mayor of Haskovo from 1999 to 2015. The project was carried out by Petyo Aleksandrov, Nikola Stoyanov and their team. The statue was ceremonially unveiled on 8 September 2003, the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and consecrated by Metropolitan Arseniy.
Because of its imposing size and prominent position, the statue is visible throughout the town and is especially attractive in the evening. The Virgin Mary has been recognised as Haskovo’s patron for centuries, and in 1993 the feast on 8 September was declared the town’s official holiday. Various cultural and sporting events organised by the municipality take place on that day.
Nearby stands Haskovo’s 30-metre bell tower, opened in 2010. It is one of the tallest on the Balkan Peninsula and offers a magnificent panoramic view over the entire town.