Fight between Greek Orthodox deacons and Armenian priests

[svin]

Palestinian police officers intervene in a fight that erupted between Greek Orthodox deacons and Armenian priests during the cleaning of the Church








Palestinian police officers intervene in a fight that erupted between Greek Orthodox deacons and Armenian priests during the cleaning of the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007. 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.

OMG!!!

Is this why Jesus Christ our Lord was given to us? These two groups need to knock it off now! The priest's, deacons, whatever are blastphemous conducting themselves in such a horrible manner and I surely would not go to ANY of them for spiritual advise. The Patriarchs of both sides needs to set them down and give them all a great big scolding including themselves for letting such a selfish rivelry to go on this long.
Hey! you dumb Greeks! Take the hand of your Armenian brothers and help them clean, then you ignorant Armenians! you do the same for you Greek bothers! GET IT. How DARE you desegrate this holy place! You have let the enemy(satan) in. He is laughing his but off right now at the lot of you. If it were up to me, I would'nt let ANY of you on there ever again! You don't deserve it. Prostrate youselves before the Cross and ask forgiveness. Christ and anywhere and everywhere belongs to the world.... not you alone! There is no such thing as "turf" among Christians.

I am an Assyrian american here in Seattle Washington, USA. I wept when I read about this. Until all of you involved with this brawl embrace one another, Satan has won and is in control . I pray peace and reconciliation between Greek and Armenian orthodox CHRISTAIN clergy here.

[svin]

Greek and Armenian Orthodox Clergy Once Again Duke It Out
by Can Tran April 20, 2008

Once again, Israeli police had to break up a brawl taking place in a church that was between the Greek and Armenian Orthodox priests. The two denominations were participating on Orthodox Palm Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The two of them were trying to get access to certain parts of the Church. As a result, a fight broke out between the clergymen of both denominations.

But, one should not be really surprised. In fact, brawls between denominations such as the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox clergymen are very common. This brawl was sparked with an Armenian priest booted a Greek priest from an area that is close to Jesus’ tomb.

Before being able to break up the fight, the police clashed with the worshippers.

This mirrors a similar brawl on back in late December of 2007 in which the clergy of the same two Orthodox denominations fought each other with brooms and stones. That brawl took place during the annual cleaning of the Church of Nativity, located in Bethlehem.

Palestinian police had to break up the fight. In the case of that church, Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and the Armenian Orthodox administer three separate sects.

On a humorous note, there is one thing the Israelis and the Palestinians have on common: they have to be the ones that break up the fights that take place in such churches.

[svin]

Armenian, Greek worshippers come to blows at Jesus' tomb
By The Associated Press
Tags: Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Dozens of Greek and Armenian priests and worshippers exchanged blows in Christianity's holiest shrine on Palm Sunday, and pummeled police with palm fronds when they tried to break up the brawl.

The fight is part of a growing rivalry over religious rights at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the site where tradition says Jesus was buried and resurrected.

A fist-fight broke out after Armenian clergy kicked out a Greek priest from their midst, pushed him to the ground and kicked him, according to witnesses.
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Two Armenian worshippers were briefly detained by police. Scores of Armenian supporters staged a protest outside the police station during the questioning of the two, beating drums and chanting.

The Holy Sepulcher is shared by several Christian denominations according to a centuries-old arrangement known as the status quo.

Each denomination jealously guards its share of the basilica, and fights over rights of worship at the church have intensified in recent years, particularly between the Armenians and Greeks.

The Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Armenians and Greek Orthodox, follow a different calendar than Western Christians and began Easter Week observances on Sunday.

Father Pakrad, an Armenian priest, said the presence of the Greek priest during the Armenian observances violated the status quo. Our priests entered the tomb. "They kicked the Greek monk out of the Edicule," he said.

Pakrad accused the Greek Orthodox of trying to step on the Armenians' rights. "We are the weak ones, persecuted by them for many centuries."

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in the Holy Land, Theofilos III, told The Associated Press "the Armenians are pushing to change the rules, and try to challenge was he said is the dominance of his church in the Holy Land."

"This behavior is criminal and unacceptable by all means," he said. "They wanted to trespass on the status quo concerning the order that regulates the services between the various communities."

Last year, pre-Christmas cleaning in the Church of the Nativity turned ugly when robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests went at each other with brooms and tones. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem - built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto - also falls under the status quo arrangement.

The status quo divides the Holy Sepulcher among the Armenians, Roman Catholics and the Greek Orthodox who have the largest share. The Coptic, Ethiopian Orthodox and Syrian Orthodox churches also have duties to maintain specific areas.

[svin]

Greek, Armenian Christians clash at Jesus' tomb on Orthodox Palm Sunday

Sarah El Deeb, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published Sunday April 20th, 2008

JERUSALEM - Dozens of Greek and Armenian priests and worshippers exchanged blows at one of Christianity's holiest shrines on Orthodox Palm Sunday.

Witnesses say the brawl erupted when Armenian clergy kicked out a Greek priest from their midst, pushed him to the ground and kicked him.

When police intervened, some worshippers hit them with the palm fronds they were holding for the religious holiday.

The Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Armenians and Greek Orthodox, follow a different calendar from western Christians and celebrate Easter next Sunday.

Sunday's brawl came amid growing rivalry over religious rights at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The church is built over the site in Jerusalem where tradition says Jesus was buried and resurrected.

Two Armenian worshippers who attacked the Greek Orthodox clergy were briefly detained by Israeli police. Scores of Armenian supporters then protested outside the police station during the questioning of the two, beating drums and chanting.

The Holy Sepulchre is shared by several Christian denominations according to a centuries-old arrangement known as the "status quo."

Each denomination jealously guards its share of the basilica, and fights over rights at the church have intensified in recent years, particularly between the Armenians and Greeks.

Father Pakrad, an Armenian priest, said the presence of the Greek priest during the Armenian observances violated the status quo. "Our priests entered the tomb. They kicked the Greek monk out of the Edicule," he said, referring to the tomb area.

Pakrad accused the Greek Orthodox Christians of trying to step on the Armenians' rights. "We are the weak ones, persecuted by them for many centuries."

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in the Holy Land, Theofilos III, told The Associated Press that the Armenians are pushing to change the rules, challenging what he said was the dominance of the Greek church in the Holy Land.

"This behaviour is criminal and unacceptable by all means," he said. "They wanted to trespass on the status quo concerning the order that regulates the services between the various communities."

The Church of the Nativity in nearby Bethlehem - where Jesus is said to have been born - also falls under the status quo arrangement. Last year, pre-Christmas cleaning in that church turned ugly when robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests went at each other with brooms and stones.