Christ the King Lisbon: History of the Statue of Portugal

This article will allow you to learn all the essential elements that you should know about the statue of Christ the King in Lisbon, a historical and religious monument.

There are several statues in the world that have a special history. The one in Portugal that we call the "Christ the King" represents a monument that is very well known in the world and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. In addition to being an interesting structure, the Christ the King of Lisbon has a direct link with the Christian religion , hence its name.

It is the most visited monument by tourists in Portugal . Its popularity is almost identical to that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. To allow all Christians to understand the meaning of the Christ the King statue , we are going to offer you an article that gives you all the important information concerning the history as well as the meaning of the Christ the King statue in Lisbon. What is the value of the monument for Christians? Why was this statue built? Why is it in this place now?

In this article you will therefore find:

• The characteristics of Christ the King of Lisbon
• The story of the Christ the King statue of Portugal
• The meaning of the Christ the King statue
• Christ the King symbolizes faith
• The Lord's Monument Protects Christians
• A symbolic memory of Jesus for all Christians

Let’s start reading this article right now!

The characteristics of Christ the King of Lisbon

Christ the King of Lisbon is a sanctuary and a monument of religion that depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus . It is important to know that this statue is not, as its name suggests, in the city of Lisbon, but rather in the municipality of Almada, in Portugal. It is due to the fact that the religious statue is located facing the city of Lisbon , in relation to the mouth of the Tagus River, that it is called: "Christ the King Lisbon".

This enormous structure is 110 meters high. It is therefore the tallest construction in Portugal . The Christ the King of Portugal has two well-defined parts. In fact, the statue in question was placed on a portico 82 meters high. The latter was built by a popular architect of the country, Antonio Lino.

The second part of the structure is the statue of Christ. It is 28 meters high and its arms are open, which means a lot to Christians. In fact, this gesture allows believers to feel that Christ is present to bless Christians and especially to protect them from evil . Moreover, Christ is turned towards the Portuguese capital and therefore takes part in the protection of the region in an optimal way. It is the sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa who is the creator of this monument that is both historic and famous throughout the world.

As for the weight of the statue, it weighs 40,000 tons. For believers, Christ the King has a chapel that is specially dedicated to Our Lady of Peace. The latter is also an important structure playing an essential role in religion and belief.

The Christ the King statue of Lisbon is then the most popular tourist attraction in the city of Almada . Its popularity is equal to that of the beaches of the Costa de Caparica. By visiting this structure, you have the opportunity to have a unique and unforgettable point of view of the regions that are located around the statue.

History of the Christ the King Statue of Portugal

Construction of Christ the King

The statue of Christ the Redeemer was erected in 1934 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the latter that allowed the Patriarch of Lisbon, D. Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira, to put together the design of a monument that could have the same appearance in his home city. It was in 1936 that D. Manuel Gonçalves Cerejeira passed his idea on to the Apostolic Prayer Movement . The latter found the idea of ​​building the statue very good, not only for religion, but also for the city of Lisbon. The project was then presented to all the bishops of Portugal. The official presentation therefore took place in 1937 during the pastoral of Lent.

On April 20, 1940, in Fátima , the project to build the statue of Christ the King was built following a wish of the Portuguese episcopate. It was during this time that prayers were made to ask God to spare Portugal from the Second World War.

The first stone of the monument was laid on 18 December 1949 , after the end of the war. It was then inaugurated on 17 March 1959 , on the day of Pentecost and in the presence of all the important cardinals of the country as well as more than 300,000 people. The statue is therefore, from that day on, considered to be a synonym for gratitude for peace. The fiftieth anniversary of the monument was celebrated on 17 May 2009.

The statue of Our Lady that was in the chapel of the apparitions is transported to the large building. The Portuguese bishops come to attend this important commemoration for the country.

The first stone for the construction of the monument took a long time to be put in place. This is due to the fact that the statue almost never saw the light of day . In fact, the condition for the construction of this monument was based on the fact that the country, that is, Portugal, should not participate in the Second World War. The episcopate that welcomed the Patriarch's proposals for the installation of the statue promised that the statue would be built only when God answered its prayers for peace . In addition, Portugal's participation as an ally of the fascist dictatorships was compromised by the relationship between the country and the United Kingdom. It was therefore thanks to the various events as well as the positive decisions that politicians took that the installation of the building was achieved at the end of the war.

In 1984, all the land located in the surrounding area was used to house the reception building of the sanctuary and the rectorate as well as administrative services for the chapel and the various rooms dedicated to exhibitions and various meetings. The surroundings of the statue were embellished by the construction of a sacred way.

In 1999, the responsibility for the sanctuary was given to the Diocese of Setubal. The monument was then subjected to restoration work from May 2001 to February 1, 2002. The work lasted an entire year due to the height of the statue.

Location and composition of the statue of Christ the King

Regarding the architecture of the statue, the statue is placed 133 meters above the sea with a view of the Tagus River . It measures precisely 110 meters and is considered a monument much larger than a vertical wind turbine . The statue was built in the parish of Pragal, the highest point in the city of Almada. This monument is accessible by car, but you can also get there by train or ferry through the port of Cacilhas in Almada.

The interior of the monument is divided into several different areas . You can find there: a library, a bar, two rooms as well as a main chapel . The latter can accommodate many Christians. Two places are dedicated to religion, one to the chapel of Our Lady of Peace and the other to the confidants of Jesus. Relics that are exposed to public veneration are also present there.

The meaning of the Christ the King statue for Christians

Christ the King Meaning: The Message of the Statue of Portugal

As mentioned above, the Christ the King of Lisbon is a statue that depicts Christ with open arms . This monument dominates the area and offers a breathtaking view of the city of Lisbon. This statue is known by all as a symbol of the city. But it is not just a simple dominant structure, this statue has great importance for Christians .

For Christians, the monument can make everyone who lives in Lisbon feel safe . Indeed, it is a religious symbol that was put in place for different reasons. First of all, placing Christ on a high point in a city means that the people who live there place the lord above everything and everyone. The structure therefore represents a very strong symbol of the height as well as the power of Christ .

Furthermore, wherever the statue is located, Christ the King can watch over the entire city with the people of Lisbon . The posture that the statue adopts is both unique and reassuring. It reminds us that the Lord is present for everyone at all times .

Christ the King: a tourist statue

In addition to representing God's love for all human beings, the Christ the King Lisbon statue can symbolize the fact that the city can welcome all foreigners who wish to come and live there, or simply visit the area. Moreover, this religious monument is open to the general public and can therefore be visited by a large number of tourists . Every year, they come in droves not only to enjoy the view that the statue offers, but also to ask for God's blessing in their lives. Openness to others is a value that is really important to Christians. And the statue totally shows this appearance of belief.

Christ the King is placed in a place that is seen by all . Indeed, it is very high and has a truly enormous height. With its arms wide open, it can symbolize openness to others . This religious statue of Jesus Christ can welcome, and above all with love, all those who wish to adopt it and follow the Lord in their lives.

Christ the King represents solidarity

Since Portugal is a country with a majority of Catholics, it is more than logical to have a monument of this religion as well. However, Christ the King does not belong only to Catholics. This monument has now become an emblem of Lisbon, and even of Portugal. Once in place, the statue attracted both Catholic Christians and believers of other religions. The statue therefore symbolizes solidarity between all Christians .

Christ the King marks redemption

In addition to all this, Christ the King of Lisbon also represents salvation. Its shape takes up that of the cross which is the element that tortured Jesus. It marks the love that God shows us as well as the Redemption .

Indeed, Christ sacrificed himself for all the sins we have committed. Thanks to his will and his true love, Jesus was able to erase all the evil that we have been able to do. He therefore granted us his eternal life. The statue projects this message well. It is there to remind us that Jesus died to save us.

Christ the King: a symbol of faith

The Christ the King of Lisbon is a statue with an incredible and particularly interesting history. It is an emblem of Portugal with great importance for the Christians of the country, but also, for all the Christians of the world faithful to their religion. Since its installation, this monument is one of the most popular religious monuments. All the Christians who live in Portugal can live freely and with great joy in the presence of this sacred statue in their country.

All Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant, can live in total harmony. Christ the King in Lisbon, perched on an impressive height, shows that Jesus Christ is above us and watching over us at all times. A bit like the statue of Christ the Redeemer located at the top of Corcovado near the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Acceptance of the Lord as the God of the universe

As with all those who believe in God, Portuguese Christians have faith in Jesus Christ and see in this building a very strong symbol of openness to others . All the tourists who come to visit this statue know that deep down, it is thanks to the presence of the Lord in their lives that their lives evolve in the right direction.

All the inhabitants of the city of Almada as well as Lisbon, know what this statue represents. And it is thanks to its existence that some have been able to understand that the Lord can keep them and especially help them through difficult times in their lives. Christ the King of Lisbon is also known by all as the great protector of the city and even the country . Portugal is continually blessed by God through this specific building.

The presence of this statue in the city of Almada is really important, not only for politicians, but also for all religious and Christians in Portugal. It is with the faith and belief of all visitors that this religious statue exists and can be continuously beautified since its creation and placement. It reminds us of the importance of God in our lives and that he remains by our side at all times .

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Reasons for Keeping Religious Memories of Jesus Christ

After reading this article, you have been able to see and learn all the information about the statue of Christ the King in Lisbon. You now know when the Portuguese statue was designed and put in place, with all the events that took place and that are related to the existence of this building. Now, you will be able to explain to the faithful in detail the meaning and history of this religious statue . You can suggest that they share our article that we wrote out of love for our religion. 😇🙏

Many Christians have opted to wear a piece of Christian Jesus jewelry as a lasting keepsake and to show their faith and belief in our Lord.

Wearing a Christian jewel linked to the message of the statue of Portugal can help its owner feel closer to the Lord and understand that life is easier when we have Jesus in our hearts . Indeed, by having a sacred object that symbolizes the image of Jesus, you will be able to better consider the presence of the Lord in your life. In addition to this statue, discover our article on the statue of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer .

A Religious Jewel of Jesus can also guide you towards the right path in your daily life, whether in your work or in the projects you wish to carry out. A Christian souvenir of Jesus Christ therefore allows you to keep the faith and feel closer to the Savior.