Statue of Christ the King

The idea of creating a statue similar to Christ the Savior in Portugal in Lisbon originated in 1934. This proposal was enthusiastically supported by the bishops in 1937, but then came the Second World War. The Episcopate vowed that if Portugal were not drawn into war, a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus would be erected over Lisbon.

Portugal managed to remain neutral and a campaign to raise donations for the monument began. Most of all women donated to the monument to Christ, because their sons, husbands and fathers escaped the meat grinder of war and remained unharmed.

The first stone was laid in 1949, and construction lasted ten years. At an altitude of 113 meters above sea level, a pedestal was installed, on which a figure with outstretched hands froze (span - 28 meters).

On May 17, 1959, on the day of the Holy Trinity, with a large crowd of people, the monument of Christ the Tsar (in Portuguese - Cristo Rei) was solemnly opened.