King Confers Senior Ecclesiastical Title on Chachoengsao Abbot
The Royal Gazette announced a royal decree elevating Phra Raj Wachiraprachana, abbot of Wat Soman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao, to the senior ecclesiastical rank of Phra Thep Wachiraprachana with a five-level title. The 52-year-old monk, known for developing a 1.2-billion-baht hospital and extensive community welfare projects, has served as provincial ecclesiastical chief since 2021.
On October 30, 2026, the Royal Gazette website published a royal decree conferring the ecclesiastical title Phra Thep Wachiraprachana Thammapakdee Phakdee, Sopon Nawakam Warakij, Yathikanisorn, Bawon Sangkhararam, Kamavasi, Phra Rajakhana Chan Thep upon Phra Raj Wachiraprachana, residing at Wat Soman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao Province, with a rank of five levels. This took effect from October 29, 2026, announced on October 30, 2026.
Currently Phra Thep Wachiraprachana (Pirat Panyatharo), aged 52 with 28 years of monkhood, holds the position of abbot of Wat Soman Rattanaram in Bang Kaeo Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chachoengsao Province, and serves as provincial ecclesiastical chief. His former lay name was Pirat Maha Wiriyothai, born May 2, 1974, residing at 19/2 Moo 10, Bang Kaeo, Mueang, Chachoengsao. His parents are Mr. Sittichai and Mrs. Kimnoi Maha Wiriyo.
In his youth, he completed Grade 6 at Wat Kon Kaeo School in 1984. At age 24, he was ordained on July 4, 1998 at Wat Soman Rattanaram (New Khun Soman) with Phra Khru Suthaphimuk as preceptor, Phra Maha Rungroj Thitrojano of Wat Thepnimit as kammavajacharya, and Phra Maha Sompoch Thammapochcho of Wat Uthok Khep Simaaram as anusavanacharya.
He passed the Nak Tham Tri, Tho, and Ek examinations successively in 2001. Due to his dedicated practice and high responsibility, he gained the Sangha's trust and held administrative positions continuously: assistant abbot in 2003, deputy abbot in 2010, abbot from November 11, 2010, district ecclesiastical chief of Tha Takiap-Plaeng Yao in 2016, and provincial ecclesiastical chief of Chachoengsao in 2021.
He has been honored as a developer monk with tangible achievements in Sangha administration, Buddhist propagation, and public welfare development benefiting the community. He led fundraising to build the 9-story Wat Soman Rattanaram Hospital (Phutthasothon 2) with a budget over 1.2 billion baht to expand comprehensive medical capacity, helping local patients receive timely treatment. He also established the Wat Soman Rattanaram Foundation to assist disaster victims and provide scholarships to monks, novices, and underprivileged youth continuously.
Additionally, he serves as a Dhamma studies teacher at Wat Soman Rattanaram School, a Parian Dhamma teacher at Wat Soman Rattanaram, a Sanam Luang Dhamma examination committee member, a kammavajacharya, a basic education committee member at Wat Soman Rattanaram School, and a Dhamma lecturer for meditation practice.
In propagation work: 2000 established the Dhamma Dana Education Fund and educational equipment fund; 2002 initiated the meditation practice project; 2003 established an education fund and hired assistant teachers for Wat Soman Rattanaram School.
In early 2025, when a newborn was abandoned at Wat Soman Rattanaram, he assisted the infant, named him "Nong Mi Bun," and acted as foster father. Later the mother and grandmother contacted him to reclaim the child, and he facilitated a joint custody agreement with ongoing support if the family faces difficulties.
In development work: built dams along the temple front, landscaped the riverfront temple grounds, renovated the sermon hall, and converted the crematorium to a smokeless furnace system.
