Ambassador Jonathan Addleton and other U.S. Embassy staff
participated in a recent celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the
reopening of Amarbayasgalant Monastery. 
The monastery complex is nearly 300 years old, but communist purges
starting in 1937 forced its closure as tens of thousands of monks were
arrested, executed, or forced into hiding. In 1989 the beginning of the
democratic movement opened the door for the re-emergence of Buddhism and the
reopening of the monasteries.

The Embassy has a long relationship with the monastery
which, as one of the few remaining historical structures in Mongolia, holds a
special place as one of its most important cultural heritage sites.  At the opening ceremony, the monks dedicated
a brand new “wish granting” stupa on the hillside, performed chants, and
recognized the monastery’s supporters.

The head monk thanked the U.S. Government for its support
– including this year’s USD75,000 cultural preservation grant to provide fire
and theft protection for the all-wooden complex, and a new roof for the main
temple building.  This grant is part of
the U.S. State Department’s Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation which
has supported hundreds of cultural heritage sites around the world.