The Most Venerable Thich Chon Thien, the deputy head of the Buddist Sangha of Viet Nam, passed away on Tuesday morning in Hue city.

The 74-year-old was a deputy of the newly-elected 14th National Assembly as well as the previous 11th, 12th and 13th. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee and a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Presidium.

Born in Hue in December 1, 1942, the Most Venerable Thích Chơn Thiện whose real name is Nguyen Hoi, ordained to be a Buddhist monk at the age of 18 and later obtained a PhD in Buddhism in India.

During his lifetime, he was awarded the Order of Independence, second-class, the Order for the Cause of the National Unity and merit certificates from the Prime Minister and the Buddist Sangha of Viet Nam for his dedication to the development of the country and Buddhism in Viet Nam.

The Buddist Sangha of Việt Nam announced his eight-day mourning ceremony to be held in Tuong Van pagoda yesterday where Thien lived his last days. 

VNS