ANTARA News, May 3, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodia's first Buddhist monk to re-enter the religion after the fall of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime has been elevated to the kingdom's highest position in the religion by King Norodom Sihamoni, according to letters released Wednesday.
< Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni
The Mahanikaya Buddhist sect leader, Most Venerable Tep Vong, had previously held an equal position at the head of Cambodia's national religion of Buddhism with the Dhamayut Buddhist sect leader, Most Venerable Bou Kry. The pair are regarded as the nation's foremost Buddhist masters.
In a letter released Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated Tep Vong on his new appointment to a title which translates roughly as "Great Monarch Chief Monk", saying he had "sacrificed everything to Buddhism and Khmer society" and lauding his work in ensuring the stability of Buddhism in Cambodia, DPA reported.
King Sihamoni issued the decree to promote Tep Vong on April 29, according to documents made available to the media Wednesday.
This is beautiful, unprecedented and hope for mankind is still real.
Posted by: mercurymarky | Thursday, 22 March 2007 at 11:50 PM