St George celebrations in Southwark: Catalan, Ethiopian and Somali-style

"He is not only representative of what it means to stand up for Christian beliefs and pay the ultimate price but also of the diversity and inclusiveness all fellow men and women as brother and sister have," Fr Khan told the congregation at St George the Martyr Church on Sunday morning.

"St George is greatly venerated by the Orthodox and Oriental churches. He is the patron saint of many countries in the east and the west. He is also patron saint of many cities as diverse as Beirut and Gerona.

"He is patron saint of everything from soldiers, scouts and those suffering from leprosy. He obviously has universal appeal."

Fr Khan, who is both assistant priest at St George the Martyr and the Archbishop of Canterbury's interfaith advisor, said that St George was spiritually connected to those who are persecuted and had a Christian unity and interfaith role.

"St George is the only saint greatly venerated among Muslims and Christians from Egypt to the Holy Land," he added.

The St George in Southwark Festival, now in its sixth year, emphasises St George as a shared focus for many of the borough's diverse communities.

Later in the day Borough Market's celebrations had a focus on St George's Day in Catalonia with roses and books being exchanged. The event, sponsored by the Spanish regional administration and other Catalan partners, featured folk music and poetry readings.

Simon Hughes MP was present to meet the head of delegation of the Catalan Government to the UK Josep Manuel Suàrez Iborra and his deputy Àngel Mesado-Jardí. Borough Market is twinned with La Boqueria in Barcelona where there will be huge 'Sant Jordi' celebrations along Las Ramblas on Monday 23 April.

Southwark's festival opened on Saturday with Mental Fight Club's Dragon Quest around Borough and a St George Fun Day in St George the Martyr Church's crypt where entertainment included Somali poetry, English song and dance and Ethiopian dance. The Confucius Institute at London South Bank University provided Chinese music and a martial arts display finale.

The festival concludes on Monday when highlights include a book sale and four open-air performances of a short George and the dragon play by the Lions part.

• www.stgeorgefestival.org.uk