WHY DO THE SERVANTS OF GOD FIGHT?

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
12 Nov 08
Armenia

Editor in chief of journal "Echmiadsin" Vardan Devrikyan expressed
belief that the collision between Armenian and Greek priests took place
on religion and property bases. Religion – because the two wings of
Christianity celebrate the Easter Day (when they take the magic light
from the grave of the Christ) on different days. Property motivation
is linked with the lands of the Armenian and Greek communities and
their rights. He also underscored that the conflicts between the two
Christian wings have started still in the 6th century and have regular
character. "The main reason of all this is that there is competition
between Armenian and Greek priests, "who will be the first to take
the light from the lamp," he said.

The inspector of Gevorgyan Seminary Sahak Bishop Mashalyan, who used
to be a clergyman in Jerusalem for three years, said that four times
a year Armenian, as well as Greek, Latin and other priests organize
religious procession around Christ’s grave. The collision with the
Greek priests takes place because the latter stand in front of the
entrance and near the grave and guard it during the ceremony, which
gives rise to the indignation of the Armenian priests.

The bishop said that the Armenian community has got valuable and
large-scale lands in Jerusalem, even on Mount Sinai, which is
considered the place of the Christ’s advent. The Greeks intend to
strengthen their positions by provoking regular collisions.