Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue appears to hold a lightning bolt in its hand 

This is the moment Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue appeared to hold a lightning bolt in its hand.  

The statue is located at the peak of the 2,300ft at the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. Visited by two million each year, it has become a symbol of Christianity around the globe and has been voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 

Brilliant deep purple skies yesterday were lit up by the flashes of lightning – which seemed almost to appear as a sign from above.

For a split second, Jesus’s words from the gospel of John in the Bible – ‘I am the light of the world’ – appeared to ring true as the statue appeared to be generating its own beacon of light – in the form of a bolt of lightning.  

The 130-foot art-deco style soapstone carving was completed in 1931 and towers over the city. The width of Christ’s arms alone span 92 feet.  

The structure’s immense size and shape make it a common target for lightning. In 2008 the statue was struck by lightning had to be repaired after losing its right thumb. In 2014, another bolt caused damaged to its head. 

And on February 10 a huge bolt struck the statue once more – illuminating the religious figure in a flash that wowed millions around the world.  

Earlier this month the flag of Turkey was projected onto the replica of Christ as a tribute to the victims who have been stuck by its devastating earthquake.  

This is the moment Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue appeared to hold a lightning bolt in its hand

Brilliant deep purple skies yesterday were lit up by the flashes of lightning – which seemed almost to appear as a sign from above

For a split second, Jesus’s words from the gospel of John in the Bible – ‘I am the light of the world’ – appeared to ring true

The statue appeared to be generating its own beacon of light – in the form of a bolt of lightning

The statue is located at the peak of the 2,300ft at the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro

Earlier this month the flag of Turkey was projected onto the replica of Christ as a tribute to the victims who have been stuck by its devastating earthquake