Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

Who is Supreme Patriarch of Thailand?

The Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. Its full title is Somdet Phra Saṅgharāja Sakalamahāsaṅghapariṇāyaka.

Nowadays the Supreme Patriarch is formally appointed by the King of Thailand upon advice of the Prime Minister and with the approval of the Supreme Sangha Council, an administrative body of the Thai Sangha. The Supreme Patriarch has legal authority to oversee both of Thailand's Theravada sub-orders, the Maha Nikaya and the Thammayut Nikaya, as well as the small minority of Mahayana Buddhists in the country. He is also the President ex officio of the Supreme Sangha Council

There has been recent discussion about reforming the Thai Sangha's leadership structure, including a 2002 proposal which would have moved many of the Sangha Council's and the Supreme Patriarch's powers to a new executive council.

The incumbent Supreme Patriarch is Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, who has served in this position since 1989. He was currently aged 100, and after suffering from increasingly serious health problems, died on 24 October 2013, as mentioned in a headlines article on the Bangkok Post website. In 2003, because of questions about the Supreme Patriarch's ability to fulfill his duties, the government of Thailand appointed a special committee to act in his stead. In early 2004, Somdet Kiaw was appointed acting Supreme Patriarch. The role of the Supreme Patriarch, even the existence of a Sangha Council, is debated in Thailand.