On 28 October 2024, H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, heads of Offices of Team Thailand in Brussels, and diplomats and officers of the Royal Thai Embassy and Offices of Team Thailand in Belgium attended the consecration ceremony of the Buddha statue “Luang Por Yok Khao” at Wat Buddharama, Belgium. The ceremony was presided over by His Holiness Somdej Phra Maha Theerachan, the Abbot of Chetuphon Vimonmangklaram Rajwaramahaviharn Temple.
          On this occasion, the Embassy offered the talipot fans, specially made on the auspicious occasion of the 6th cycle birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Rama X, to His Holiness and the participating monks.
“Luang Por Yok Khao” Buddha statue was built in memoriam of His Majesty King Rama V, Chao Phraya Aphai Raja (Gustave Rolin-Jacquemyns) — a Belgian who served as an advisor to His Majesty King V, and His Royal Highness Damrong Rajanubhab. The Buddha statue was made of white jadeite from Greece, the pedestal of jade from India, and weighs 1.5 tonnes.
           After the ceremony, His Holiness visited Wat Dhammaprateep, Mechelen (Muizen) at the invitation of Phra Kru Videssutamedhi, the Abbot, before departing for Paris.
It is the Embassy’s utmost honour and pleasure to welcome His Holiness Somdej Phra Maha Theerachan and senior monks from Thailand, Sweden, and the Netherlands. May all Thai communities be blessed by this good deed.