On 22 January 2023, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, Phra Vimolsasanavides, Abbot of Wat Thai Norway and Chief of Thai Dhammaduta Bhikkhu Union in Europe, Embassy’s officials, members of the sangha, and members of the Thai community in Sarpsborg went to visit the Hope Cathedral in Fredrikstad.

 

Ms. Solveig Egeland, CEO and artistic leader of Hope Cathedral, welcomed the delegation and explained how the Hope Cathedral was created from her vision after feeling sad from watching the birds died from eating plastic wastes in the ocean. She wanted to create a “Holy Place” for people of all religions or faiths. The Hope Cathedral was built from plastic waste in the ocean. It is an interfaith, environmentally sustainable art project symbolizing the creation of hope through cooperation. It is opened to all, a meeting place for people of all ages and across differences in culture and religion. The architecture is inspired by Norway’s famous stave churches. Ms. Egeland expected the project to be completed in spring 2023. Then, it hoped that the Hope Cathedral can be sailed to other cities in Norway, such as Arendal and Oslo.

 

The Hope Cathedral and Wat Thai Norway has a close cooperation since 2018 when Phra Vimolsasanavides attended the launching ceremony of the project and in 2019, Phra Vimolsasanavides led a delegation to visit the Hope Cathedral for the first time. Thai Buddhist monks and nuns from Wat Thai Norway sat in meditation in the Hope Cathedral.

 

For further information about Hope Cathedral, please visit www.hopecathedral.no or https://www.facebook.com/hopecathedral.no.