Wat
Wat Ratanarangsey (Revere)
វត្តរតនរង្សី
Wat Ratanarangsey (វត្តរតនរង្សី), also spelled Wat Ratanarangsi, is a Khmer Buddhist Wat on Thornton Street in Revere, Massachusetts.[1][2]
History
Cambodians in Revere founded the Wat in 1995 as the Revere Buddhist Community. For its first year it was in a house on Highland Street, and in 1996 it moved to Thornton Street.[2]
Venerable Pat Sophal came to the United States in 1997, sponsored by Venerable Sao Khon Dhamathero of Trairatanaram Temple in North Chelmsford, where he served as a religious worker until 2000. After a year in Cambodia, he became the resident abbot of Wat Ratanarangsey in 2001.[2] He compiled the 2026 directory of Cambodian Buddhist temples and monks in the United States.[1]
The building
The Wat occupies a large former house on a quiet residential street, changed little since the move. A yellow awning, a sign and two flags, the Cambodian national flag and the Cambodian Buddhist flag, mark the outside. The main hall on the first floor is used for prayer, meditation and ceremonies. A multi-tiered altar holds many Buddha images, with a large golden Buddha image from Thailand at the top. The first floor also has a small kitchen where lay members cook for the monks, and the monks live upstairs.[2]
Religious life
The Wat follows the Theravada tradition, and services are held in Khmer with some prayers in Pali.[2][3] As of 2026, three monks lived at the Wat.[1] Members come each morning to prepare food for the monks, and weekend services include chanting, prayer and offerings of food. The yearly festivals include Visakha Bochea, Meakha Bochea, the start and end of the rains retreat, Pchum Ben, the Kathin robe offering and Cambodian New Year. The monks also hold smaller ceremonies such as 100-day funeral memorials, house blessings and long-life ceremonies.[2]
In April 2022 the Wat held no Cambodian New Year activities because of COVID-19, and people brought food and offerings from April 14 to 16 instead.[4]
Community
Members come from the Cambodian communities of Revere, Lowell and Lynn. The Wat has offered summer Khmer language classes for children.[2]
Visiting
The Wat is open daily.[2]
Associations
Revere Buddhist Community, Inc. (associated organization).[5]
The 2026 and 2014 temple directories list the Wat together with Revere Buddhist Community, Inc. at 75 Thornton Street.
See also
- Wat Ratanarangsey (Wichita), a Khmer Wat of the same name in Wichita, Kansas
- Sanghikaram Wat Khmer, a Khmer Wat in Lynn
- All organizations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pat Sophal, 2026 Directory of Wat Khmer or Cambodian Buddhist Temple in the USA (August 6, 2026)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 The Pluralism Project, Wat Ratanarangsi and Revere Buddhist Community Inc. (updated April 13, 2024)
- ↑ BuddhaNet, World Buddhist Directory: Massachusetts (undated)
- ↑ City of Revere, Cambodian New Year Starts (April 14-16) (April 14, 2022)
- ↑ Pat Sophal, 2026 Directory of Wat Khmer or Cambodian Buddhist Temple in the USA (August 6, 2026)