Posts Tagged ‘Armenian Orthodox’
Christianity in action — Priests brawl over turf in Bethlehem
Scuffles have broken out between rival groups of Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics over a turf war in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
Bemused tourists looked on as about 100 priests fought with brooms while cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas, on 7 January.
Palestinian police armed with batons and shields broke up the clashes.
Groups of priests have clashed before in the church, built on the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born.
“It was a trivial problem that… occurs every year,” Bethlehem police Lt-Col Khaled al-Tamimi told Reuters. “No one was arrested because all those involved were men of God,” he said…
The 1,700-year-old church, one of the holiest sites in Christianity, is in a bad state of repair, largely because the priests cannot agree on who should pay for its upkeep.
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified, has also seen similar incidents.
Anyone surprised that money is the root of battles between these churches. Another primo reason for skirmishes like this is who gets the juiciest spots to sell souvenirs to tourists.
No one is ever startled by an atheist like me posting about an event like this, I guess. But, please, remember as I do – there are individuals stuck into religion who still try to live up to the best standards of humanity. I always recall Rev. McLean who left our family’s church to work for the UN in the 3rd World – or the cynical and humorous priest I shared a cell with one Chicago night after battling coppers over our right to protest on behalf of civil rights.
After a great discussion of the origins of Christianity – he explained why he wore a fedora hat. Though already out of fashion in the 1960′s, he figured it made him look more like Bing Crosby and therefore less likely to be beaten by the defenders of law and order. 
