Christians exchanged blows at their holiest site

[cynatnite]

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

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

It erupted when Armenian clergy kicked out a Greek priest from their midst, pushed him to the ground and kicked him, according to witnesses.

snip:
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 from 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.

“We are the weak ones, persecuted by them for many centuries.”

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=195191

:rofl:

[RB TexLa]

1. That happens at every event there

[msongs]

2. theyve been doing that for nearly 2000 years :-) nt

[gateley]

3. That is just too nuts!

Fighting -- with palm fronds, no less -- where Jesus was to have been buried and resurrected! Sounds like an Onion story!

:rofl:

[Mojambo]

4. That's gotta be a forehead slapping moment for Jesus. n/t

[provis99]

5. what the heck is the damn difference between Armenian and Greek Orthodoxy?

Man, religious people will take any excuse to attack someone. These guys are on the same level as the Crusaders who sacked Christian Constantinople in a fit of pious rage.

[magellan]

6. My sect's better than your sect

...because we're more persecuted!

The siren's call of Christianity.