Violence In The Holy Land - Brawling Monks

Brawling Monks.



Once again, monks come to blows at Church of Holy Sepulcher

A physical altercation erupted on Sunday between rival monks at one of Christianity's holiest sites; police have detained two clergymen for questioning.



Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the fighting erupted between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity's holiest shrine in Jerusalem's Old City. The church is traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

Police called in to break up the brawl detained one monk from each side. Rosenfeld says the incident flared over preparations for the annual ceremony held by the Armenians to commemorate the 4th century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.

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Background:

In 1767, weary of the squabbling, the Porte issued a firman that divided the church among the claimants. This was confirmed in 1852 with another firman that made the arrangement permanent, establishing a status quo of territorial division among the communities.

The primary custodians are the Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic Churches, with the Greek Orthodox Church having the lion's share...Times and places of worship for each community are strictly regulated in common areas.

Establishment of the status quo did not halt the violence, which continues to break out every so often even in modern times. On a hot summer day in 2002, the Coptic monk who is stationed on the roof to express Coptic claims to the Ethiopian territory there moved his chair from its agreed spot into the shade. This was interpreted as a hostile move by the Ethiopians, and eleven were hospitalized after the resulting fracas.

In another incident in 2004 during Orthodox celebrations of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a door to the Franciscan chapel was left open. This was taken as a sign of disrespect by the Orthodox and a fistfight broke out. Some people were arrested, but no one was seriously injured.

The most recent of these incidents occurred on April 20, 2008 (Palm Sunday), where a brawl broke out due to a Greek monk being ejected from the building by a rival faction. Police were called to the scene but were also attacked by the enraged brawlers.