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A DELEGATION OF FOREIGN PROFESSORS AND SCHOLARS OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES VISITING CAO DAI TEMPLES IN HA NOI

A DELEGATION OF FOREIGN PROFESSORS AND SCHOLARS OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES VISITING CAO DAI TEMPLES IN HA NOI

Updated 2023-07-16 19:00:41

(Ha Noi, July 11, 2023 - Reported by CaodaiTV)

On 24 Lunar May, Year of the Cat (Solar Calendar: 11 July 2023), a delegation of 15 professors and scholars of religious studies from Italy, France, U.S and South Korea paid a visit to Cao Dai Temples located in Phuc Duc and Dang Giang villages outside of Hanoi. The two Cao Dai Temples are under the management of the Cao Dai Holy See’s Headquarters in Tay Ninh Province.

The delegates are as follows:

1. Prof. Massimo Introvigne - Director of Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in Italy.

2. Prof. Rosita Soryte - Former Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the Council of Europe, and the United Nations in New York.

3. Prof. Bernadette Rigal-Cellard - Université Bordeaux Montaigne (France), and Vice-President of the European Observatory of Religions and Secularism.

4. Prof. Gyungwon Lee – Daejin University, South Korea

5. Prof. Kwang Suk Yoo - Kyung Hee University, General Secretary of EASSSR (East Asian Society for the Scentific Studies of Religions)

6. Prof. Francis Jae-ryong Song - Director of Institute for Religion and Civic Culture, Kyung Hee University

7. Jason Greenberger, PhD - Managing Editor of Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia (JDTREA), Daejin University

and 8 other distinguished scholars and doctoral students from Daejin and Kyung Hee Universities.

On the occasion of participating in an international conference jointly organized by Hanoi National University and East Asian Society for the Scientific Studies of Religions (EASSSR), the delegates were invited to go on a private excursion to Cao Dai facilities in and around Hanoi.

Being authorized by His Eminence Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Chairman of the Sacerdotal Council of Cao Dai Tay Ninh Holy See, and introduced by Archbishop Ngoc Hong Thanh, Head of the Cao Dai Ministry of Interior, Priest Thuong Canh Thanh and Student-Priest Thuong Em Thanh (Interpreter) joined hands with the Management Boards of Cao Dai Temples in Phuc Duc and Dang Giang Villages to arrange the visit.

Bishop Ngoc Liem Thanh, Head of the Cao Dai Temple in Phuc Duc Village gave a brief introduction to the history of the temple, the number of Cao Dai followers, and their spiritual and cultural life.

The guests extended their thanks for the warm welcome and were interested in getting to know more about ritual ceremonies, reincarnations, colors of religious costumes and ranks in Cao Dai Religion.

After lunch hosted by the temple’s Management Board in Phuc Duc, the delegates observed a daily noon service in the main hall of the temple.

After observing the ceremony, the scholars from Daejin and Kyung Hee Universities returned to Hanoi center while Prof. Massimo’s group went on an excursion to another Cao Dai Temple in Dang Giang Village which is approximately 50 km away.

At Dang Giang Cao Dai Temple, there were around 40 dignitaries, sub-dignitaries and followers welcoming the guests. Bishop Huong Loc, Deputy Head of the Temple (Women’s Branch), introduced a short history of the temple, the social life of the followers, and challenges facing the temple.

The delegates appreciated the warm welcome, admired the female leader of the temple for her significant role in managing all the religious affairs of the temple, and wished for a further development of Cao Dai in this region.

The guests were then invited to go upstairs to observe the way of worshipping in this temple. After some group photos and gift exchanges, the guests returned to Hanoi center, finishing a one-day tour to Cao Dai facilities in Hanoi.

For further information about the close relationship between the Sacerdotal Council of Cao Dai Tay Ninh Holy and Professor Massimo, Professor Bernadette and distinguished scholars, please click on the following links on www.caodai.com.vn

1. THE SACERDOTAL COUNCIL OF CAODAI TAY NINH HOLY SEE ON ITS FIRST EUROPEAN RELIGIOUS TOUR - MAY 2017

Link: https://caodai.com.vn/en/news-detail/the-sacerdotal-council-of-cao-dai-tay-ninh-holy-see-on-its-first-european-religious-tour-may-2017.html

2. THE 2018 GRAND FESTIVAL COMMEMORATING THE HOLY MOTHER GODDESS IN THE CAO DAI TAY NINH HOLY SEE, VIETNAM

Link: https://caodai.com.vn/en/news-detail/the-2018-grand-festival-commemorating-the-holy-mother-goddess-in-the-cao-dai-tay-ninh-holy-see-vietnam.html

3. SCHOLARS FROM SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN, JAPAN AND USA PAID A VISIT TO CAODAI TAY NINH HOLY SEE

Link: https://caodai.com.vn/en/news-detail/scholars-from-south-korea-taiwan-japan-and-usa-paid-a-visit-to-caodai-tay-ninh-holy-see.html

Here are a few pictures of the visit :

VISIT TO PHUC DUC CAO DAI TEMPLE