September 29, 2004
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Punch-up at tomb of Jesus
Allyn Fisher-Ilan in Jerusalem
Tuesday September 28, 2004
The Guardian
Fistfights broke out yesterday between Christians gathered on the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ.
"There was lots of hitting going on. Police were hit, monks were hit ... there were people with bloodied faces," said a witness in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, reputed to be Golgotha where Christ was crucified, and the site of the tomb where he was buried.
The punch-up erupted during a procession to mark the discovery in 327 by Helena, mother of Constantine, of the True Cross.
A Greek Orthodox cleric said Franciscans had left open their chapel door in what was taken as disrespect. Priests and worshippers hit one another at the doorway dividing Orthodox and Franciscans, said a police spokesman.
Two years ago, Ethiopian and Copt monks threw stones at each other over rights to the church roof.
Comments (5)
Thank you for the condolences.
It is amazing that people were physically fighting in such a Holy place. I consider that so disrespectful, almost to the point of blasphemy. The confrontation just shows how people say they believe one way but their actions show the opposite. Where was the forgiveness, the non-judgement, the compassion? Where was their love for God and his house?
Oy.
Sometimes it makes me wonder how fake some 'religious' people are?
isn't it odd that ppl fight over silly things in the very place where the speaker of "love your neighbor more than yourself" MAY have been born... it's not like anyone knows for sure, but how ironic!!
what would jesus do?
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