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That's the Spirit: Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks in Broom Fight

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  • That's the Spirit: Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks in Broom Fight

    ianyan magazine
    Dec 28 2011

    That's the Spirit: Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks in Broom Fight
    Society - By Liana Aghajanian

    In the spirit of holiday giving, Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks
    took it upon themselves to exchange gifts, except they weren't the
    kind of presents you would normally expect. Around 100 priests hurled
    brooms at each other in Bethlehem's Church of Nativity as they were
    cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas, which both
    cultural groups celebrate.

    The outburst, broken up by baton and shield-wielding Palestinian
    police, came to head as the Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics, who
    each control a portion of the church along with Roman Catholics,
    believed to be built over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus,
    got into the scuffle over a `turf war.'

    Bethlehem police Lt-Col Khaled al-Tamimi was quoted in Reuters as
    saying that no one was arrested `because all those involved were men
    of God' while the BBC reported that the 1,700-year-old church is in
    bad shape because priests can't agree on who should be footing the
    bill for its repair.

    The rotting roof timbers have not been replaced since the 19th century
    and due to rainwater seepage, there is a chance of an electrical
    short-circuit and fire, according to the historical preservation
    organization, World Monuments Fund, who sees an agreement between the
    three keepers of the church as the only solution to its repair:

    For the site to be preserved, its three custodians - the Greek Orthodox
    Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church, and the Franciscan order - would
    have to coordinate their efforts, but such a collaboration has not
    occurred in nearly a thousand years.

    The WMF reports that an agreement was reached in September 2010 to
    restore the church's roof, the first of its kind, funded by the
    Palestinian authority.

    The ironically timed priestly brawl is a common occurrence. In 2008,
    Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks went head to head at the Church of
    the Holy Sepulchre, known as the site of Jesus' crucifixion. The
    Greeks blamed the Armenians for not recognizing their rights, while
    Armenians said Greeks had violated a traditional ceremony their clergy
    attempted to place one of their monks inside the Edicule, a structure
    said to encase the tomb of Jesus, reported the BBC. Unlike today's
    battle, four monks were detained by police in the fight.

    http://www.ianyanmag.com/2011/12/28/thats-the-spirit-armenian-and-greek-orthodox-monks-in-broom-fight/

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