www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Armenian, Greek worshippers come to blows at Jesus' tomb

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

Here is a really sad story, and another reason why the Apostolic Churches need to unify.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

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.

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.

By The Associated Press

I have also underlined the mistake made by the Associated Press. This just shows that national news organizations need real religion writers who know their subjects.

These yearly brouhahas are a sad commentary - and none of us can hold our heads high. If one goes back through the past few decades, as my reollection holds, one can find similar instances instigated or contributed to by each of the 6 Churches with status in the Holy Places - except perhaps the Syriacs, whom I don't recollect being involved in any of this foolishness.

Many years,

Neil

This just brings to mind an awesome sermon I heard this past weekend when we Orthodox celebrated the Saturday of Lazarus...

The Priest said that the biggest miracle we could ever witness, even bigger than the raising of Lazarus from the dead, is when people, whether they are friends, strangers, relatives, parishioners, enemies, spouses, parents, children--can HUMBLE themselves to one another and love and forgive one another...

"If I speak in human and angelic tongues 2 but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)

Alice, I believe this corresponds very well with what your priest said. Blessed Holy Week to all.

Every freakin' year....

----------
Western Orthodoxy Blog [westernorthodox.blogspot.com]

Alice, I agree. I don't understand sometimes what happens to humility...

It's like national pride takes precedence over humility... I will humble myself before God, but never before the Armenians! Or something to that effect.

It's a shame that Christians would act this way...

Am I the only one who would like to place bets and would be willing to watch it on PPV?

My money is NOT on the RC's, they haven't had much fight since VII.


jk

Shlomo JK,

Actually, the Franciscans have participated in this "Holy Smackdown". The most mild form is when they get into chanting contests and goes all the way to fist-fights.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Wasn't there a similar conflict over who takes cleaning duties at another site?

It's sad.

Terry

Chanting contests sounds interesting, that probably falls within the bounds of "reasonable" - I always thought the Franciscans would release some kittens on them:

http://www.addictinggames.com/kittencannon.html

jk - was for just kidding, not my name, lol (stands for laugh out loud).

Father Pakrad? No wonder the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is such a mess--they put pakrads in charge! They can never throw anything away....

A friend of mine e-mailed me this article earlier in the week, and said that if I could promise this sort of action at my Holy Week services, he would attend.

Dave

Shlomo Terry,

Same site. Because of the status quo every inch is "owned" by a certain Church.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

If they want to fight over who cleans up the dirt, please tell them they could come over and help us with the spring cleaning. We've got the usual from being closed up all winter and the forced air blowing all the dust around so no one needs to go away for lack of enough to do.

And if they come up short at my place, there are lots of elderly people in the neighborhood who could use a good cleaning service, too.

On another note, this whole idea of "rights" is a rather poisonous one. We are all called as guests into the Father's House and then made members of the family. But it seems to me that we often "assume" that our adoption is something to be grasped at, rather than something to be thankful for. What does Scripture say about Our Lord? That He did not see His status as Son something to be grasped at? Wonder if we all ought to take a page out of His Book.

BTW, I take no joy that these are not members of my own Church. Some of the antics of some of my own people there don't exactly make me do handsprings over being identified with them.

In Christ,

BOB

See how these Christians love one another.