Members of the Party Central Committee: Le Quoc Minh - Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Thai Thanh Quy - Standing Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee; Nguyen Khac Than, Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, along with representatives of local authorities, a large number of people, monks, nuns, and Buddhists attended the ceremony.
From the memory of the people of Loc Da village, the image of Buddha of Da Pagoda is still present as a sacred symbol of faith and morality.
According to the legend of the elders, the pagoda was built at the end of the 17th century, then restored in 1889, under the reign of King Thanh Thai.
At that time, in the middle of the green forest of ancient trees, there was a large Da tree with a wide canopy covering the majesticly built Tam Bao, so people often called it Cay Da Pagoda, or Da Pagoda.
The pagoda is not only a place for religious activities, but also associated with the heroic pages of history of the homeland.
In the revolutionary climax of the Soviet-Nghe Tinh Movement 1930-1931, the great drum sound of the pagoda echoed to cheer for the protesters fighting for independence and freedom.
Party members of the Loc Da-Duc Thinh Party Cell under Yen Truong canton used that drum to cheer for the historic protest on May 1, 1931 at the old Truong Thi-Ben Thuy industrial park.
That drum is being kept at the Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Museum, proving the bond between the Dharma and the nation, expressing the spirit of Buddhism always accompanying the homeland and country.
Through many changes of history, war and time, the pagoda gradually deteriorated, leaving only traces in the middle of the dense tree covering the old foundation of the Three Jewels.
In accordance with the earnest wishes of the people and Buddhists, in 2017, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a decision to restore and embellish Da Pagoda.
26 items of Da Pagoda will be restored and built, with a total cost of more than 60 billion VND, supported by people, Buddhists and philanthropists.
In the overall construction planning grounds of the pagoda, a memorial house will be built to express gratitude to 534 Vietnamese revolutionary journalists who bravely sacrificed in the cause of protecting the independence and freedom of the nation.
The restoration and construction of Da Pagoda is not only building a Buddhist architectural work, but also restoring a spiritual cultural heritage of the homeland, preserving and promoting the good moral traditions left by the predecessors, and at the same time being a red address for generations of journalists to return to express gratitude and continue the dedication and sacrifice of the predecessors.
Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Le Quoc Minh emotionally shared: "For journalists, this place is not only a spiritual work, but will become a spiritual support, a place to preserve professional memories, a place to commemorate colleagues who fell for the truth, for the Fatherland and for the people; and also a space for each person to reflect and remind themselves about responsibility, about ethics and about professional ideals.
Comrade Le Quoc Minh emotionally mentioned the persistent wish of journalist Tran Van Hien - who has spent more than 15 years silently collecting, connecting, and preserving information about journalists who have sacrificed; and at the same time vowed to join the pagoda in establishing a place to worship the spirits.
Behind that journey is also the companionship, sharing and encouragement of many journalists, colleagues and hearts in society - people who have contributed labor, effort, materials and even memories to create a meaningful work.
According to Comrade Le Quoc Minh, no value is nurtured from a single individual, it is always the result of joint efforts, of colleagueship and of common responsibility to the profession.
It is from that connection, from those hearts, that the worship of journalists has been formed and preserved naturally in the hearts of the people, in the voluntariness and sincerity of journalists.
Building a spiritual space at Da Pagoda today is not only a continuation of a wish, but also a commitment: Generations of journalists will preserve this place as a sustainable spiritual address - a place where everyone can come to offer incense and commemorate, and also a place to train themselves, remind themselves to live and work worthily of the sacrifices of previous generations.
I believe that when the project is completed, this place will become a meaningful gathering point - not only for journalists, but also for the majority of people, who always cherish the truth and silent sacrifices," Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh emphasized.
