There seems to have been a heck of a rumble at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of both Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Witnesses described a wild scene – “There was lots of hitting going on. Police were hit, monks were hit … there were people with bloodied faces…” The fight, which resulted in 12 injuries, had to be broken up by the riot police. The fight between Franciscans and Greek and Russian Orthodox clerics over an open doorway during a procession. Haaretz explains that
Custody of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is shared by several denominations that jealously guard territory and responsibilities under a fragile deal hammered out over the last centuries. Any perceived encroachment on one group’s turf can lead to vicious feuds, sometimes lasting centuries.
Apparently, fistfights between clerics are not that uncommon at the Church. Mind you, it seemed pretty chill when I was there last June. No one bothered me and I was wearing a christ-killer shirt. Go figure, huh?
Jim R
9/28/2004
It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. I know Jesus would have been proud of them all.
BTW, Ck. Check out this article in today’s NY Times.
The oldest verse in the Bible:
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace.”
has been deciphered from an ancient amulet. Interesting reading.
Michael
9/28/2004
I’d read about that Birkat Kohanim find before. Nice that they confirmed it.
Apparently at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Ethiopian Orthodox monks have been relegated to the roof, where they have built an Ethiopian-style village. All those monks fighting over something that arguably isn’t even the right spot…
ck
9/28/2004
… if there even IS a right spot.
And you’re right about the Ethipian Copts. They are indeed on the roof, because none of the other denominations let them set up inside. Not like there’s a shortage of room in there either. Pretty whacky, eh?
T_M
9/28/2004
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace.”
I say this every Friday night.
eevee
9/28/2004
Please tell me that that ‘s not really you at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem REALLY wearing a “Christ-Killer” t-shirt…
ck
9/28/2004
Uh yeah. I was really at the Church and I was really wearing the shirt…
eevee
9/28/2004
That is so hot. I want you. Right here. Right now.
Alli
9/30/2004
Mon Frier, you look kinda like Gumby in this picture. Normally, you look very un-Gumby-like, but…
Chris
9/30/2004
TACKY TACKY TACKY
eevee
9/30/2004
gumby???
Oyster
12/28/2006
Whoa, ck. That picture looks nothing like you. What gives?