PHOTOS: Budapest’s celestial guardian angel at Heroes’ Square to be removed and restored

Archangel Gabriel, Budapest’s guardian angel, has been looking over some of the most beautiful parts of the capital for 123 years. Standing vigil for more than a century and witnessing history from the creation of the Heroes’ Square to the fall of Communism, the statue of the celestial being needs revamp due to its deteriorated state. Based on the plans, he will continue to watch over the city from next spring.

The Millenium Monument of the Heroes’ Square is one of the emblematic places in Hungary where many tourists pay a visit and take some selfies. The monument depicts some of the turning points of the Hungarian history in the Carpathian basin, from its conquest to the 1848-1849 freedom fight.

Watching over the square from the top of a Corinthian column is the artistic masterpiece of György Zala, the statue of Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel holds in its right hand the Holy Crown of Hungary while in the left, there is the Patriarchal cross, just as in the legendary dream of Saint Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary who – based on the legend – received the Holy Crown from the pope.

The restoration of the 123-year-old sculpture began in July and will last 6-12 months depending on the internal state of the masterpiece. Though it is hard to measure its size from below, the statue is almost five metres high and has not undergone a major renovation since its installation in 1901 due to a lack of money. Moreover, it has not been removed from the top of the Corinthian column ruling over the square and the nearby buildings, including some embassies and the headquarters of Orbán’s Fidesz party.