What is the meaning of the Christus Statue?
Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen was a Danish-Icelandic sculptor of Protestant origin who created many sculptures in the neo-classicist style, and who spent most of his life in Italy (1797-1838) with many of his rich patrons located across Europe. He was often compared to the other famous sculptor Antonio Canova, and many of his sculptures included those of famous personalities one of which was that of the resurrected Jesus, also known as Christus, the Carrara white marble sculpture of which he completed towards his older years in 1833 for the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christus was known to be part of a larger set of commissioned works which also included the sculpting of the 11 original apostle statues with Saint Paul the Apostle to replace the 12th (omitting Judas Iscariot) by the same Danish evangelical Lutheran church in Copenhagen.
Christus Statue Replicas in the United States
There are many reproductions of the Christus statue today, and it has been adopted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) where the sight of the open arms of the Resurrected Lord is a symbol of the Savior's invitation to all, a reminder of Christ teachings and sacrifice, and has been adopted by the Latter-Day Saint temples and visitor centers in much of the United States. To see the living Lord drawing His open arms outwards is a sign that the Savior will embrace all who will come unto Him.
The first Christus statue that was gifted to the church in the United States stood about 11-foot tall and was placed in the unfinished North Visitors’ Center in Temple Square in Salt Lake City in 1962 and was unveiled in 1967. In December 2019, another 8-foot Carrara white marble Christus statue was unveiled for the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is the premier meeting hall for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A third 12-foot Christus statue was then commissioned with the same sculpting company Rebechi Aldo & Gualtiero for the New York World’s Fair, and several more Christus statues soon followed which found their way in the temple visitors’ centers all across the United States and in certain parts of the world such as in Brazil and Japan.
Meaning of the Christus Statue
On April 4, 2020, the LDS Church President Russell M Nelson announced the Christus image as the new central symbol which was placed above the church’s name. Since then, the church has used the Christus image in its webpages and other official documents. The symbolism derived from the sight of the Lord with open arms, which represents the faith of the members of the church and that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and Redeemer.
Christus or Christ means “the anointed one”, a title given to Jesus by His followers who believed that He is the anointed son of King David, whom some Jews expected to restore the fortunes of Israel. The Christus statue which is a central focus for the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is a visual reminder of the importance of Christ’s teachings, His loving sacrifice and the role He plays in acting as a Savior and guide for His followers. While the LDS Church recognizes the powerful meaning of the Christus statue, it is also a powerful representation of Christ within other Christian contexts.
Types of Christus Statues
There are many mediums used to create the Christus statues today and at TimelessBronze.com, you can find the Christus statues available in bronze, marble and granite. These are durable and time lasting statues designed to add glory and love to the garden of churches, visitor centers and parks.
Bronze Christus Statue
Our inspiring bronze Christus statue celebrates the beauty of the Lord as He directs those who embrace Him to “come unto Him”. Standing at close to 72 inches, this stunning and striking life size bronze Christus statue encapsulates the raw energy and strength of the Lord as He opens both arms outwards in a willing form to guide and act as Savior to all who embrace Him. Cast in bronze using the ancient lost wax process, our life size Christus statue can be set up at the visitor centers of the LDS Church or in parks and gardens where He will emit a holy presence to all.
A high quality bronze Christus statue ensures that it will stay out in the open and is not affected by the weather here in the United States. You only need to use mild soap to clean the statue and wax it with something like Trewax twice a year to ensure it retains its original shine. Some of our customers like the oxidation that happens when bronze naturally develops an attractive patina finish when left outdoor in the elements.
Granite Christus Statue
Our grey granite statue of Christus, comes in several sizes and captures the natural appeal of the Lord as He opens both His arms outwards to embrace any one who seeks to “come into Him”. Granite is a very hard material that is excellent for outdoor use. It is
extremely resistant to both harsh weather conditions and man-made pollutants. As a result, our Christus granite statue is very durable and will not break. It is also not only scratch resistant but it does not take much maintenance, and will most certainly last a long time without any issues.
Marble Christus Statue
Many customers may like the idea of a white marble Christus statue for the church or religious organization as white symbolizes purity and immortality. The use of white marble religious statues has been a tradition for centuries and continues to make a profound statement even till this day. Marble statues add elegance in contrast to granite statues which add a natural look. Marble statues also add a symbolism of permanence and hence, the beauty of marble Christus statues simply add a holiness about it, bringing the Lord closer to the people. While granite serves its function, many churches love the idea of having a marble Christus statue to add to their convention or visitors rooms.
Conclusion
We welcome anyone looking for a Christus statue to adorn their facility. Whether you choose bronze, marble or granite, a Christus statue reminds us of the Lord and His Resurrection, and why He continues to be the central figure in Christianity.
Please email us at tion_art@yahoo.com if you are looking to add a high quality Christus statue to your organization or church.