Monks brawl at Holy Shrine

SteveGrenard

Philosopher
S
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Messages
5,528
Well so much for making peace, not war. Two warring fractions of the Christian church decided to duke it out during an upcoming ritual. Israeli police had to keep them from killing (sic: crucifying) each other...


Fighting erupted between Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Christ's crucifixion.

Two monks from each side were detained as dozens of worshippers traded kicks and punches at the shrine, said police.

Trouble flared as Armenians prepared to mark the annual Feast of the Cross.


Shocked pilgrims looked on as decorations and tapestries were toppled during Sunday's clash.

Dressed in the vestments of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations, rival monks threw punches and anything they could lay their hands on.
Click to expand...

This one will not go away soon. Here’s a google entry for the guardian’s account:

'Bless me father for I have chinned'
guardian.co.uk, UK - 1 hour ago
Ever seen a holy war close-up? Take a look at this bizarre video of a brawl between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks in what is supposed to be one of ...
Click to expand...

And then there’s this one:

Holy Sepulchre church is safety hazard says Israeli official
Ecumenical News International, Switzerland - Oct 29, 2008
Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity's most venerated sites, poses a safety hazard to visitors, the Israeli Tour Guide Association ...
Click to expand...

No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs.

sic gloria transit mundi
 
Last edited:
Minor fighting in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In other relgious news pope is still a catholic.
 
The Evil Jewish Conspiracy

Some historical context is needed here. The various Christian factions did not always fight with each other. Once upon a time, they lived in peace with each other. But then The Evil Jews invented Eggos. Then they sent exactly half as many Eggos as would be required to feed all the monks there.

Soon, screams of "Leggo my Eggo!" were heard echoing through the halls of the church; their peace was shattered, and an eternal enmity was born.
 
You can read as many accounts of the holy war in Jerusalem that you want to at:

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=&q=monks+brawl+


The BBC account in the OP is:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7718587.stm

And yes, this is not the first time this has happened.

The quarrel has erupted into brawls _ in 2002, when the Coptic monk moved his chair into the shade and too close to the Ethiopians, a dozen people were hurt in the ensuing melee. And today, the Ethiopians claim the fight could result in the monastery's collapse and even in damage to other parts of the church, one of the holiest sites in Christendom.

Since the 1970s, the Israeli government has refused to allow renovations or significant repairs at the disputed monastery until the Ethiopians and the Copts come to terms. That hasn't happened, and the Ethiopian Church says the years of neglect have put the structure in danger. The Copts suggest the Ethiopians are merely trying to further cement their hold.
Click to expand...

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct25/0,4670,MLIsraelHolySepulcher,00.html


Hmm…cement their hold? Okay. Good idea.
 
SteveGrenard said:
...

No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs.

sic gloria transit mundi
Click to expand...
.
Prince Henry the Navigator's first captain...

" Vasco da Gama began a campaign of terror against Muslim shipping off the Malabar Coast. Here he captured the Meri, a ship with 200 Muslim pilgrims on the return journey from Mecca, and set it alight. With some 400 men, women and children aboard, da Gama fuelled the fires for four days until all had died."
.
Sister Mary Caligula never mentioned this part when talking about the Portugese opening the trade route to India.
 
They probably figured that if it was good enough for Buddhist Monks to fight it out over who controls a temple, they could try it.
 
Maybe EA Sports will come out with Bible Brawl '09!
Click to expand...
Gasp! The Panzer Cardinal ripped Pat Robertson's heart out?! This blasphemy is offensive to Christians!

:p
 
mrbaracuda said:
Stupid Christians!
Click to expand...

Out of curiousity when Buddhist Monks in South Korea had a running war over one of their temples in 1997 including gangs of them openly brawling in the streets about the Temple, or when other Buddhists in Cambodia had a number of street fights over control of one of thier temples last year, did you say "Stupid Buddhists"?
 
PhantomWolf said:
Out of curiousity when Buddhist Monks in South Korea had a running war over one of their temples in 1997 including gangs of them openly brawling in the streets about the Temple, or when other Buddhists in Cambodia had a number of street fights over control of one of thier temples last year, did you say "Stupid Buddhists"?
Click to expand...

Of course not. It's cool when it happens in East Asia. I mean, come on: there's a whole genre of film dedicated to it!

;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom