Archbishop Rowan Williams paying historic visit to Zoroastrian Centre

Oct 1 2010
By Ian Proctor

ZOROASTRIANS have welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury to their place of worship in South Harrow in a historic first for the Anglican clergyman.

Dr Rowan Williams arrived at The Zoroastrian Centre in Alexandra Avenue at 1.50pm today and will spent the rest of day learning about the ancient religion, observing prayers and meeting key figures.

He was greeted at the door by female Zoroastrians wearing 'garas', or traditional expensive saris, who slipped a garland over his head and offered him 'mithai', or sweet meats.

Rosewater was sprinkled on the archbishop's hands before Dorab Mistry, the president of The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, the charity that bought and renovation an art-deco former cinema into The Zoroastrian Centre, introduced their guest to white-clothed and white-hatted 'ervad shahebs', or male priests whose title is hereditary but only to males in the lineage.

Dr Williams met trustees, members of the managing committee, and a few other visitors in the foyer as did the Bishop of Willesden Peter Broadbent. the rest

Wikipedia: Zoroastrianism