Priests brawl at Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2007-12-27 07:10pm

Well, the annual after Christmas brawl in Bethlehem has finished....

Seven people were injured on Thursday when Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests came to blows in a dispute over how to clean the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Following the Christmas celebrations, Greek Orthodox priests set up ladders to clean the walls and ceilings of their part of the church, which is built over the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born.

But the ladders encroached on space controlled by Armenian priests, according to photographers who said angry words ensued and blows quickly followed.

For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed priests laid into each other with fists, brooms and iron rods while the photographers who had come to take pictures of the annual cleaning ceremony recorded the whole event.

A dozen unarmed Palestinian policemen were sent to try to separate the priests, but two of them were also injured in the unholy melee.

"As usual the cleaning of the church afer Christmas is a cause of problems," Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh told AFP, adding that he has offered to help ease tensions.

"For the two years that I have been here everything went more or less calmly," he said. "It's all finished now."

The Church of the Nativity, like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City, is shared by various branches of Christianity, each of which controls and jealously guards a part of the holy site.

The Church of the Nativity is built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago after Mary and Joseph were turned away by an inn.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2007-12-27 07:37pm

God... please save me from your Followers.

DrMckay · Post by **DrMckay** » 2007-12-27 11:27pm

What Happened to "Turn the other cheek?"

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-12-27 11:47pm

That is the funniest thing I've read all day. Thank you.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-28 12:29am

That is fucking HIlarious!!
"Your devil ladder encroached on my side of the room!!! In the name of Christ, I shall kick your FUCKING ASS!!!"

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2007-12-28 12:35am

DrMckay wrote:What Happened to "Turn the other cheek?"

I think they were turning all of the cheeks in this instance.

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2007-12-28 01:21am

Perhaps it's "Turn the other person's cheek for them. By any means necessary."

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2007-12-28 02:20am

Do you think that any off them, at the HOLIEST sight they have, ever contemplate, that at the HOLIEST site, where the person and entire basis for their religion was BORN, the fact, that at this place, they can't even get along to CLEAN a fucking room?

I don't think any of them do... Not once, for one second.

Post by **K. A. Pital** » 2007-12-28 03:57am

So when will they form WWF-style federations?

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2007-12-28 04:09am

"As usual the cleaning of the church afer Christmas is a cause of problems," Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh told AFP, adding that he has offered to help ease tensions.

"For the two years that I have been here everything went more or less calmly," he said. "It's all finished now."

The good mayor needs to inform these people that until these asshats can guarantee that they won't act up in the future, the doors are closed to them for this yearly ritual.

loomer · Post by **loomer** » 2007-12-28 05:35am

Why is it that whenever something this hilarious happens we don't get a yahoo nearby with a camera, but we do whenever something completely lame does?

PeZook · Post by **PeZook** » 2007-12-28 07:39am

Stas Bush wrote:So when will they form WWF-style federations?

They already did, except this is a blood sport they are practicing.

They have very long tradition in it, too.

loomer wrote:Why is it that whenever something this hilarious happens we don't get a yahoo nearby with a camera, but we do whenever something completely lame does?

Dude, there were dozens of photojournalists right there. Expect this event to be on youtube in approximately zero time.

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2007-12-28 01:05pm

^^

For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed priests laid into each other with fists, brooms and iron rods while the photographers who had come to take pictures of the annual cleaning ceremony recorded the whole event.

15 minutes of footage...man that'll be sweet...

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2007-12-28 01:12pm

Don't all three Denominations that share that church hate each other and argue over this kind of stuff every day? National Geographic was fairly clear that day to day relations in that church are strained at best. It would seem that at least the Catholics didn't jump in, although this would have created epic lulz for our consumption.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2007-12-28 01:16pm

Vehrec wrote:Don't all three Denominations that share that church hate each other and argue over this kind of stuff every day? National Geographic was fairly clear that day to day relations in that church are strained at best. It would seem that at least the Catholics didn't jump in, although this would have created epic lulz for our consumption.

Absolutely. I'm surprised nobody got killed while another person was shouting "how many fucking angels on this fucking pin, you fucking heretic?!"

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-12-28 01:21pm

This happens every year, too.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Darth Lucifer · Post by **Darth Lucifer** » 2007-12-28 01:23pm

I am going to share this with everyone I know. Truly Epic Lulz.

I hope there are videos leaked out onto YouTube and I hope it spawns parodies and parodies of those parodies.

LEAVE JESUS ALONE!!!!!

That NOS Guy · Post by **That NOS Guy** » 2007-12-28 01:26pm

Stas Bush wrote:So when will they form WWF-style federations?

WORLD WIDE FUNDAMENTALIST WRESTLING!

Man, if revenues ever fall I bet they could sell DVDs of these fights for a handsome profit.

Post by **Kuja** » 2007-12-28 01:34pm

SCHIIIIISMMMM!

alexholker · Post by **alexholker** » 2007-12-28 01:42pm

Anyone know who won?

Post by **fgalkin** » 2007-12-28 01:44pm

That NOS Guy wrote:
Stas Bush wrote:So when will they form WWF-style federations?
WORLD WIDE FUNDAMENTALIST WRESTLING!

Man, if revenues ever fall I bet they could sell DVDs of these fights for a handsome profit.

On one hand, they're not fundamentalists.

On the other, they do it quite a lot:

From 2006

A priest was wounded and two men were arrested after a scuffle between rival Greek Orthodox factions at Saint Anna's church in east Jerusalem late Tuesday.

The clashes occurred between supporters of newly elected Greek Orthodox patriarch Theofilos III and those of deposed patriarch Irineos. Police rushed to the church to break up the fighting.

From 2004

Jerusalem clerics in punch-up row

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).

Religion of peace

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Setesh · Post by **Setesh** » 2007-12-28 06:57pm

Vehrec wrote:Don't all three Denominations that share that church hate each other and argue over this kind of stuff every day? National Geographic was fairly clear that day to day relations in that church are strained at best. It would seem that at least the Catholics didn't jump in, although this would have created epic lulz for our consumption.

The Catholics had already cleared out. See normally they avoid being in the church at the same time. This brawl occurred because the two groups involved celebrate orthodox christmas, which is in early January and end up there at the same time to start cleaning the place for their celebrations.

You want a 3-way brawl wait for black friday-easter.

dr. what · Post by **dr. what** » 2007-12-28 07:19pm

Video here

Only a few seconds long but still rather amusing...

montypython · Post by **montypython** » 2007-12-28 10:42pm

The very idea that every square millimeter of that church needs to be effectively demarcated is such epic levels of ludicrousness that it's something you just can't make up.

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-12-31 05:32pm

Foreign Correspondent did a big piece on this a few years back. Absolute hilarity. The full transcript can be read on that link.