King Appoints Wat Arun Abbot to Supreme Patriarch Council
His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has appointed the abbot of Wat Arun, Phra Prommavachamethee, to the Supreme Patriarch Council with the new ecclesiastical title Somdet Phra Vachiragovithamethee. The 83-year-old monk has served 61 years in the sangha and holds honorary doctorates in Buddhist studies. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on October 21, 2026, ahead of the royal Kathin ceremony by barge procession at Wat Arun in November.
On October 21, the Royal Gazette website published a royal command announcing the conferral of an ecclesiastical title. The notice states that His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn has graciously appointed Phra Prommavachamethee to the rank of Somdet Phra Racha Khana with the ecclesiastical name Somdet Phra Vachiragovithamethee Puchaniyasathan Phathana Thera Khunakorn Thammanusit Wichittham Prathiphan Phaisan Sasankit Dilok Tripitaka Bandit Mahakanisorn Bawor Sangkaram Kamavasi Aranyavasi, residing at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, the royal temple in Bangkok. He holds ten ranks of seniority. The appointment is effective from October 20, 2026, announced on October 21, 2026, the eleventh year of the current reign.
This year will see an important royal ceremony to be recorded in history: the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony by the Royal Barge Procession for the year 2026 on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, on the occasion of the auspicious celebration of Her Majesty Queen Suthida's fourth cycle birthday on June 3, 2026.
Somdet Phra Vachiragovithamethee (Somkiet Kovito) is a senior monk practitioner whose conduct is admirable and revered. He has made numerous contributions to the propagation of Buddhism. Currently aged 83 with 61 years of monkhood, he serves as the abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam in Wat Arun subdistrict, Bangkok Yai district, Bangkok, as well as advisor to the Region 9 Ecclesiastical Chief and member of the Supreme Sangha Council.
His former name was Somkiet Phattaphak. He was born on September 6, 1943, at 93 Moo 4, Leing Faek subdistrict, Borabue district, Maha Sarakham province. His parents were Mr. Thongsi and Mrs. Uay Phattaphak.
At age 13, he entered novice ordination at Wat Amphan Huay Khuan, Borabue district, Maha Sarakham province, with Phra Khru Phiphatsilakhun of Wat Ban Kud Rang as his preceptor. He later received full ordination on May 10, 1965, at Wat Na Pho, Borabue district, Maha Sarakham province, with Phra Khru Chayadhammaranan as his preceptor.
He studied Dhamma, passing the third, second, and first levels of Nak Tham examinations respectively, affiliated with the Maha Sarakham Provincial Nak Tham Institute. He then devoted himself to serious study of the Pali branch of Dhamma. However, as provincial temples were not yet fully equipped, he decided to go to the capital to study at Wat Ratchasittharam Institute in Bangkok.
In 1971, he graduated from the Pali Preparatory School for Higher Education at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. In 1976, he passed the Special Secondary Grade Pali Examination (P.M.) in Bangkok. In 1982, he passed the Ninth Level Parian Tham Examination at Wat Ratchasittharam Institute.
In 2006, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Buddhist Studies (Educational Administration) from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. In 2012, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Buddhist Studies (Buddhism) from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.
He has rendered numerous services to the Sangha, including in education from 1952-1967 and 1966-1974 as a Pali Dhamma teacher at Wat Phichayayatikaram Institute in Bangkok. In 1966, he served as a Dhamma examiner at Sanam Luang. In propagation work, he has been a regular lecturer for morality training and supported Dhamma sermons on Dhamma Day at Wat Arun Ratchawararam. He has published Buddhist knowledge documents for the general public at both central and regional levels, cooperating with the Sangha and government agencies in propagating Buddhism at all levels.
His ecclesiastical rank progression: In 1996, he received the title Phra Racha Khana Thammasat (ordinary rank) with the name Phra Methiwaraphon. In 2001, he was elevated to Phra Racha Khana Rachati (royal rank) with the name Phra Ratcharatanasuthi. In 2006, he was elevated to Phra Racha Khana Thepati (noble rank) with the name Phra Thep Methi. In 2019, he received...
