Thailand's new Supreme Patriarch invited to attend investiture ceremony

BANGKOK, February 10 (TNA) - The abbot of the Ratchabophit Temple in Bangkok, Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong, has received the letter of invitation to attend the investiture ceremony on February 12, after he was recently appointed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun to be the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Ormsin Chivapruck, who oversees the National Office of Buddhism, met Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong at the Ratchabophit Temple on Friday morning to formally invite him to attend Sunday's investiture ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok's Grand Palace. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the February 12 ceremony, during which His Majesty will present holy water to the newly-appointed top monk. Meanwhile, people were crowding the Ratchabophit Temple to see and to pay their highest respect to the new Supreme Patriarch. The royal appointment of the new Supreme Patriarch came after a recent law amendment to allow the Thai King to directly name the country's supreme patriarchs, instead of the nomination by the Sangha Council. The 89-year-old 20th Supreme Patriarch succeeded His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who passed away in October 2013 at the age of 100. (TNA)