Roman Catholic and Orthodox clerics have exchanged blows inside Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity's holiest sites.
The punch-up began after Greek and Russian Orthodox believers took offence at a door left open by members of the Franciscan order during a service.
At least five people were injured in the fracas - including Israeli police officers called in to quell it.
The church is shared jealously by six rival Christian sects.
Long-time antipathy
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City is said to be the site of both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The latest trouble began after a procession through the church on Holy Cross Day - marking the discovery of the cross which some believe was used for the crucifixion.
"There was lots of hitting going on. Police were hit, monks were hit ... there were people with bloodied faces," said Aviad Sar Shalom, an Israeli tour guide who witnessed the fight, according to Reuters news agency.
Police said they made several arrests.
The six Christian sects sharing the church have come to blows before.
In 2002, monks from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church of Egypt - two groups which for years have been vying for control of the church's roof - fought over the position of a chair on the roof.
Rivalry between the six different churches dates back to the aftermath of the crusades and to the great schism between Eastern and Western Christianity in the 11th Century.
To prevent squabbling, two Muslim families have had guardianship of the key to the only entrance to the church since 1178 when they were entrusted with it by the Muslim ruler Salah el-Din (Saladin).
And FIGHT!
I wonder who won, though. I hope it was the Russian Orthodox priests, although that would depend entirely on their drunken brawling skills.
when you start having nuns break out in jello wrestling matches to the death, i'll be impressed. otherwise, it's stupid that they'd fight over something so petty and trivial, but meh.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
Your lack of respect for the faith is astounding, fgalkin. Truly, I am appalled and stunned and mortified. After all, it has only been @1000 years since the schism between Rome and Constantinople.
Surely you did not expect tensions to ease so quickly? We must have patience with these religious lunati...er...men of faith, trusting that in time, they will all come to the conclusion that the best thing for the world is to kill each other, trusting the Jews/Muslims/Hindus/Wiccan/Jedi/other won't take advantage of the weakness caused by 38 Christians surviving from a single sect.
I am so disappointed in you.
You probably have no respect for the 2002 incident regarding the position of a chair on a roof also......
