Career
He was the youngest of seven senior monks re-ordained under Vietnamese supervision in 1979 in order to provide a core leadership group for the re-establishment of the Cambodian sangha, which had been nearly destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. In 1979, Tep Vong gave evidence at the trial in absentia of Khmer Rouge leader Political Pot, testifying that Political Pot had personally executed 57 monks, including several family members. He also claimed to have personally been sentenced to four years labor by the Khmer Rouge.
In 1981, Tep Vong was appointed the sangharaja of a unified Cambodian Sangha, temporarily dissolving the division between the Dhammayuttika and Mahanikaya orders that had existed since 1855.
In 2006, Tep Vong was elevated to the title of Samdech Preah Agga Mahā Sangharājādhipati (Khmer: សម្តេច ព្រះ អគ្គមហាសង្ឃរាជាធិបតី), or Great Supreme Patriarch. He is the first monk in over 150 years to receive this title.
Venerable Tep Vong has spoken out on several occasions regarding issues surrounding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome situation in Cambodia, in particular following a 2000 conference organized for monks by the National Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Authority. Tep Vong has stated that he believes that Cambodia"s Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome problem has been overstated by Cambodia"s enemies in order to discr the ruling government.
He has also stated that Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a form of karmic punishment that is best dealt with by cracking down on prostitution, and that monks should not take any role in treating Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome patients, nor in disseminating Human Immunodeficiency Virus education.
Certain elements of the Mohanikaya have attempted to position monks as conduits for educational materials regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a position opposed by Tep Vong.
