MONKS BRAWL BEFORE RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
By Shira Medding

CNN.com
November 9, 2008 Sunday 12:16 PM EST

An unusual sight greeted Jerusalem police as they entered one of
Christianity’s holiest sites Sunday morning: dozens of monks punching
and kicking each other in a massive brawl.

Monks from the Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations were preparing
for a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City
when a disagreement led to a full-fledged fistfight.

The fight began when Armenian clergy were holding a procession to
commemorate the finding of the cross believed to have been used in
the crucifixion of Jesus, according to The Associated Press.

The Greek members of the clergy wanted one of their monks present, AP
reported, for fear that the procession would undermine their claim to
an ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus.

The two sides could not agree and when the Armenians tried to begin
the procession, the Greek monks stepped in and the fighting began,
AP reported.

"We were keeping resistance so that the procession could not pass
through … and establish a right that they don’t have," a young
Greek Orthodox monk with a cut next to his left eye told AP.

Many among the dozens of monks came away with cuts and bruises,
said police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld.

Officers were called to the scene to break up the brawl.

They detained two monks, one from each denomination, Rosenfeld said.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is thought to be built
on the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Rivalries
between the different sects that share control of the church often
lead to tensions between the sides.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress