A biography of Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi (Apiphon Apiphol), the first abbot of Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek, following his death at age 89.
It is sad news in the monastic community following reports that Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi (Apiphon Apiphol), abbot of Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek, passed away at 05:18 on 2 Apr 2026 at Chulalongkorn Hospital, aged 89 years and 21 days, deeply mourning his devoted disciples.
Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek has scheduled the funeral rites for Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi (Apiphon Apiphol, Dhamma Studies Level 5) at the sermon hall of Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok, on 3 Apr 2026 from 10:00 to 16:30 for the bathing ceremony, 17:00 for the royal water pouring ceremony, and 19:00 for the Buddhist rites and chanting of the Abhidhamma.Read the news: “Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi,” abbot of Wat Rama 9, passes away at age 89.)
Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi was born Apiphon Boonsong on 13 Mar 1937 in Thung Khwang Subdistrict, Kamphaeng Saen District, Nakhon Pathom Province. His father was Mr. Thoop Boonsong, and his mother was Mrs. Moon Boonsong. He completed fourth grade at a local village school before moving to Bangkok to ordain.
He was ordained as a novice on 2 Jul 1954 at Wat Bowonniwet Ratchaworawihan with the Supreme Patriarch, Krom Luang Vajirañāṇavara, as preceptor. Upon turning 20, he was fully ordained on 28 Jul 1957 with Phra Phrom Muni (Phin Suwajo) of Wat Bowonniwet as preceptor. He passed the highest level of Dhamma studies and achieved the fifth level in Dhamma examinations. He advanced to assistant abbot of Wat Bowonniwet and was appointed secretary to Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch and Sangharaja, as well as secretary to the Bangkok-Samut Prakan Ecclesiastical District, Dhammayut branch.
In 1987, King Rama IX conceived a solution to polluted water by aerating Bueng Rama 9, land owned by the Crown Property Bureau, and also initiated community development in the area. The King desired the establishment of a temple, Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek, with a simple design, constructed in 1995.
On 1 Jul 1996, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch, appointed Phra Ratchasumon Muni (his title at the time) as the abbot of Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek. Phra Phrom Wachirasuthi carried out Buddhist duties in line with the royal initiatives of King Rama IX, sustaining and spreading the Dharma both domestically and internationally.