Christian prisoner Farshid Fathi has published a letter from Evin Prison on the third anniversary of his arrest, saying he is celebrating Christmas in prison with “unexplainable joy”.

Farshid was arrested in December 2010 in Tehran. After months of uncertainty in Ward 350 of Evin Prison, he was eventually brought before a Revolutionary Court in January 2012 and sentenced by Judge Abolqasem Salavati to six years in prison for “acting against national security”, “promoting Christianity”, and “cooperation with foreign Christian organisations”.

He has now spent more than 1,100 days in prison for his faith and Christian activities. 

In his letter, he thanked all those who continue to pray for his release, and prophesied that they should prepare themselves for an “exciting journey” in the year ahead.

Read the full text of Farshid Fathi’s letter below:

Dear brothers and sisters,

We are celebrating Christmas in prison with honour and an unexplainable joy in Christ.

2013 is going to end and we are very thankful to the Lord for everything we were given this year. I had called 2013 “the year of revelation”. Now I am very glad because I am calling 2014 “the year of God’s presence”.

God calls us to walk before Him and be blameless, as He said to Abraham. So far, walking before Him is very sweet and so exciting. It is filled with great endurance, afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, hunger, purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God.

So my dear brothers and sisters, if you read this, be ready for a very exciting journey in 2014.

Thank you so much for remembering me in your prayers after 1,100 days.

With blessings in Christ,

Your brother,

Farshid