of Wat Florida Dhammaram
On December 5, 2002, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (the ninth monarch of Thailand of the Chakri dynasty, Rama IX) bestowed upon our abbot, Than Sunan Dhananandho, the ecclesiastical rank of “Chaokhun”, replacing his old rank and title, Phrakrupalad Sampipatana Sutajarn with the rank and title of “Than Chaokhun Phra Vijitrdhammapani”.
Venerable Phra Vijitrdhammapani was born Sunan Kruekaew, on August 3, 1957 in Tambon Takrea, Umphur Ranode, Songkla Province, to Nai Poom and Nang Ohm Kruekaew.
Sunan completed his elementary school at Wat Kasetchonlatee. Having passed an entrance examination, he was getting ready to attend a secondary school. However, he decided to seek a monastic lifestyle instead. On July 14, 1973, he was ordained as a novice at the age of sixteen at Wat Kasetchonlatee where he attended primary school. Phrakru Suwatanaprasart was his Phra Upajjaya (his mentor in the ordination ceremony).
in Bangkok and was under the care of Phra Dhepvaraporn (who was Phrakru Aduldhammanuvat at the time). When Sunan was twenty-one years old, he took full ordination as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk).