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Clerics clash in Church of the Nativity

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  • Clerics clash in Church of the Nativity

    Reuters
    Dec 28 2011


    Clerics clash in Church of the Nativity


    (Reuters) - A Christmas cleaning of the Church of the Nativity turned
    into scuffles on Wednesday between rival Christian clerics zealously
    guarding denominational turf at the holy site.

    Brooms and fists flew inside the church marking the birthplace of
    Jesus as some 100 priests and monks of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian
    Apostolic churches brawled.

    Palestinian police, bending their heads to squeeze through the
    church's low "door of humility," rushed in with batons flailing to
    restore order.

    "It was a trivial problem that ... occurs every year," said police
    Lieutenant-Colonel Khaled al-Tamimi. "Everything is all right and
    things have returned to normal," he said. "No one was arrested because
    all those involved were men of God."

    Administration of the 6th century Bethlehem church, the oldest in the
    Holy Land, is shared by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian
    clerics.

    Any perceived encroachment of jurisdictional boundaries within the
    church can set off a row, especially during the annual cleaning for
    Orthodox Christmas celebrations, which will be held next week.

    (Writing by Jeffrey Heller, Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta;
    Editing by Alessandra Rizzo)

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/28/us-palestinians-church-idUSTRE7BR0EN20111228

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