in the Church of the Nativity two days after Christmas.
Posted on 12/27/2007 8:42:38 AM PST by Gamecock
Robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests went at each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity on Thursday as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning.
The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities. Any perceived encroachment on one group's turf can set off vicious feuds.
On Thursday, dozens of priests and cleaners came to the fortress-like church to scrub and sweep the floors, walls and rafters ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in the first week of January. Thousands of tourists visited the church this week for Christmas celebrations.
But the cleanup turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church's section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.
Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue, then ordered an Associated Press photographer out of the church.
Four people, some with blood running from their faces, were slightly wounded.
You can’t make this stuff up.
This happened a few years ago.I remember seeing video on it.
Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue
The irony -- Palestinians are the peacemakers in the war of religion...
“Blood running from their faces” hardly sounds like slightly wounded.
Oh grow up!
I’m beginning to think these places should be locked up until the priests and monks learn to act like followers of Christ and not bratty children in the back seat of the car.
Father-priest: Are you familiar with Orthodox theology?
George: Well perhaps, not to the extent that you are. But I know the basic plot.
Father-priest: Plot?
George: Yeah, yeah. You know the uh flood, and the uh lepers, and the commandments and all that.
Wasn’t there actually a thread about this exact thing a few years back? What, is this an annual event now?
They were fighting over Sister Roberta. That kavorka is strong.
Not.
No.......wait.......they've been reading Free Republic.
Of course.......it all makes sense!
Why can’t this stuff happen at one of those mega churches or TBN? Paula, Benny, Jan, Joel... what pay-per-view potential. Imagine the ruined hair and manicures. It would be like watching the apocalypse.
I am neither Orthodox nor Armenian, but posting this article is nothing but a cheap shot designed to do...what...exactly? We could all dig up ridiculous, embarrassing and scandalous articles to post about each other’s confessional allegiances, but what would that prove or disprove? What of the thousands of seekers and otherwise unaligned lurkers on these threads? Do you suppose that such foolish antics as what transpired in Bethlehem, or the reporting of the same on this religion forum, serves them in their walk toward Christ? The posting of this article shows no wisdom, as is the case when any of us post articles designed to trash one group of Christians, yet ultimately succeeding only to the detriment of Christianity as a whole.
This is just disgraceful. I’m sure Our Lord is just so proud of these guys....
A cheap shot?
This is a place that is important to all Christians and these guys are acting like idiots and my posting the article is a cheap shot????
I suppose we should all just bury our collective heads in the sand and ignore Priests Behaving Badly? Isn’t that what got one large well known Church in big trouble a few years ago?
Disingenuousness is not terribly becoming. Happy New Year to you.
Neither is surliness.
Right back at you.
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