"Christ from the Abyss" is a statue created by the Italian sculptor Guido Galleti, located in the bay of San Fruttuoso, near Genoa, in the waters of the Italian Riviera.
The idea to place the image of Jesus Christ at the bottom of the sea belongs to the diver Duilio Marcante, who found it in the process of underwater meditation. Apart from religious aspects, with his idea, Marcante wanted to perpetuate the memory of another diver - Dario Gonzatti, the very first Italian scuba diver, who died at this place in 1947.
The bronze statue 2.5 meters high depicts Jesus asking for protection and peace for all people of the waterways: sailors, fishermen, divers and others. The face and hands of the Savior are directed to heaven, as if in anticipation of a miracle.
"Christ from the Abyss" is very popular among lovers of underwater depths. The crystal clear waters of the San Fruttuoso Bay make it possible to observe not only the smallest details of the bronze creation, but also to appreciate its beauty from a distance.
Some immerse themselves in the statue out of curiosity, others for religious motives, and there are those who believe that this is more than just a work of art and the image has healing properties.
For half a century of existence, the statue has become heavily overgrown with algae and has lost a fragment of an arm from an unsuccessfully thrown anchor. In 2003, it was removed from the water, cleaned and restored, and a new pedestal was erected at the bottom. In July 2004, "Christ from the Abyss" returned to its rightful place.
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It is worth noting that under the influence of the time spent in the depths of the sea, the praying image of Jesus Christ takes on a rather ominous look, which does not at all foretell the forgiveness of sins.
