The world of thousands of picturesque islands, endless rice fields and slender coconut trees is located between two great oceans and has an abundant historical and cultural heritage. More than 150 nations and 1000 languages and dialects peacefully coexist in this exotic country. And the number of religions and different movements on the land of the world’s largest Islamic state can astound even experienced historians and theologists. Catholic churches, Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries, built next to Muslim mosques and minarets, surprise no one. Built in 2007, a gigantic Jesus Christ statue, stretching the hands over the city of Manado, perfectly fits into this wonderful mixture of cultures and religions of mysterious Indonesia.

The snow-white statue called «the Blessing of Christ» appeared on the island of Sulawesi due to the efforts of the local Christian movement «Manado and North Sulawesi society and to worship God» and the generous donation of one of the richest businessmen in the country – Edwin Soeryadjaya Chiputra. By the way, this cost him more than half a million dollars, which is simply outrageous for poor Indonesia.

The construction of the statue, made by the local company Yogjakarta Engineer, lasted for 3 years. The ceremonial opening with the participation of the Governor of North Sulawesi took place in 2010. Twenty-five tones of metal wire and thirty-five tones of steel were used for its creation. Today a stunning 30-meter-high statue stands on the pedestal almost of the same height. The whole construction is situated at an altitude of more than 1500 meters, on the top of the hill in the area of ​​the elite residential complex named Citra Land. Set at a 20-degree angle, the huge sculpture of Christ hovers above the ground. With its back to the sea and its face to the city, the statue seems to have come out of the water to protect this lovely resort city.