The renovation of the monument to Christ the Redeemer, which was covered during four months of work, was presented by the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and Vale to the Brazilian people on 30 June.
Besides a mass, celebrated at Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary, a chapel at the foot of the monument, church bells in Rio’s central and south zones tolled at noon, an event that has only occurred twice before in history. At night, the monument was illuminated green and yellow, something which will continue for seven nights.
The city’s icon, which turns 80 next year, has received from some help over the years, but the effects of time required a complete restoration. Vale invested U.S.
$7 million in the work which commenced in March.
Cultural contest Forever Christ Redeemer
In June, Vale promoted a global cultural contest: Forever Christ the Redeemer. The initiative brings back a tradition which begun at the time of the monument’s construction. Before being attached, the little triangles of soap-stone which form the outer covering of the statue, were glued by women volunteers. In honour to their loved ones, they wrote their names on the stones and the papers that formed the base for the collage.
These and other curiosities are related at www.parasemprecristoredentor.com.br which offers internet users a virtual tour of the monument. The cultural contest Forever Christ Redeemer was closed on June 20 and the winners of a relic of the monument are announced on the site.