Diocese of York / News & events / News

A group of parishioners from Holy Trinity in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough attended the launch of the official Farsi translation of Common Worship in Wakefield Cathedral on Saturday 2nd March.

The event was hosted due to an increasing number of immigrants and refugees coming over from Iran and converting to Christianity. North Ormesby has found itself as a centre for a few such refugees, and Revd Dominic Black described the event as “a new, welcoming way for those from strange and foreign lands, now more free to explore their faith”.

Although currently available in English, French, and Mandarin Chinese, there is not yet a Farsi translation of Common Worship.

The words of the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, opened the service.

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, greetings to you in his name on this wonderful occasion. I am sorry to be unable to be with you, and I trust that the service will be a great celebration of the goodness of God, who makes us one in Christ, breaking down every barrier between us. I rejoice at the publication of this Farsi translation of the Holy Communion Service – though we are many, we are one body!”

From the congregation of Holy Trinity, 10 native Farsi Speakers joined over 500 people to worship together.

Speaking after the event, Asghar said ‘I felt proud and content to see, for the first time ever, that my fellow Persians could free pray in their mother tongue in a proper cathedral. Seeing two nations worshipping the One God alongside one another, in a peaceful place, made it the most memorable and exquisite service of my church life”

Revd Dominic Black said “We have been deeply enriched as a parish by the steady stream of Asylum Seekers sent to North Ormesby from all over the world in the last ten years. All but a few move on when they have leave to stay but we stay in touch with many. ”