The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
April 7, 2007 Saturday

Feuding monks in bad odour over sewage leak at crucifixion site

by Tim Butcher in Jerusalem Old City

PILGRIMS visiting the site of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection
in Jerusalem this Easter may experience an atmosphere rich in smells
other than incense after an inter-denominational row over the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre’s latrines.

A blockage to the lavatory block’s solitary outflow pipe caused
sewage to leak just yards from Golgotha, the rocky outcrop where
Jesus is believed to have been crucified.

With Jerusalem’s summer heat fast approaching, there are fears of a
major health risk. But in spite of the site’s status as the most
sacred shrine in Christianity, tension between the denominations who
share custodianship of the church precincts has prevented repair work
being carried out.

"It’s disgusting in every meaning of the word,” said Fr Jerome
Murphy-O’Connor, a renowned Biblical scholar and long-time critic of
the denominational rivalry.

"It is symptomatic of the silliness and pettiness of what happens in
the church and gives it such a palpably unchristian atmosphere.”

The 10 lavatories were built in the first half of the 19th century to
service the needs of the 30 Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Franciscan
monks who live all year round inside the Holy Sepulchre. They are now
also used by visitors.

The outflow pipe has slowly become overwhelmed, leading to calls for
a major restoration of the facilities with perhaps a new pumping
system.

Money is not the problem, with various pilgrim groups saying they
would be willing to pay for the work.

It is the Armenians who are currently withholding their agreement
because of a row with the Greek Orthodox over the protocols of the
ceremony of the Miracle of the Holy Fire.