BANGKOK — Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch, His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, celebrated his 99th birthday on Friday, with the government holding a merit-making ceremony in his honour at Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the Buddhist chanting and alms-giving ceremony dedicated to the Supreme Patriarch’s birthday. The event was attended by Cabinet ministers, heads of independent agencies, military and police commanders, senior government officials and representatives of state organisations.
Upon arriving at the temple, Anutin paid respects to the Supreme Patriarch inside the ordination hall.
His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Ambaro) was born in Ratchaburi province on 26 June 1927. He was ordained as a novice monk in 1940 in his home province before entering the monkhood on 9 May 1948 at Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram in Bangkok.
His Majesty the King formally appointed him as the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand on 6 February 2017. The royal installation ceremony took place at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace on 12 February 2017.
The Supreme Patriarch is the highest-ranking member of Thailand’s Buddhist Sangha, serving as the spiritual leader of the nation’s monks and as a symbol of unity and stability for Buddhism in Thailand.