The Supreme Patriarch passes away

He turned 100 on October 3 and is considered the longest living Supreme Patriarch in Thai history.

According to the government's announcement, the national flag will at half-mast during October 25-27 to commemorate his departure. Meanwhile, all civil servants and government employees are ordered to wear unadorned black clothing for mourning for 15 days, starting from October 15. 

From 8am on October 25, Buddhist followers will be allowed to pay respect to His Holiness. At noon, his body would be moved from Chulalongkorn Hospital to Wat Bororanives, via Rajadamri Road towards the expressway (Rama IV entrance). From Urupong exit, the motorcade will turn left to Petchburi Road, towards Rajadamnoen Klang Avenue, Democracy Monument and Phra Sumain Road where the temple is located.

The departure of the revered 19th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin Kingdom brings great sadness to his devout followers, who have been anxiously monitoring updates on his health. 

Chulalongkorn University, where he was being treated, confirmed that His Holiness passed away at 7.30pm last night. 

The late Supreme Patriarch underwent an intestinal surgery for bacterial infection on October 14 at Chulalongkorn Hospital. 

Phra Nyanasamvara was the mentor of His Majesty the King during his 15-day ordination from October 22 to November 5, 1956. He held several prominent ecclesiastical positions after being ordained as a novice when he was 14 and then entering monkhood proper when he turned 20. He was appointed as Supreme Patriarch in 1988.

According to his secretariat office, His Holiness always reminded his followers about the “Three Marks of Existence” – impermanence, suffering and non-existence. 

Wat Bororanives, which was his official residence, marked the Supreme Patriarch’s centennial with an exhibition of major historical events over the past 100 years.