Monks brawl at Holy Shrine

SteveGrenard · 9th November 2008, 10:16 AM

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...

Quote:

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.

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

Quote:

'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 ...

And then there’s this one:

Quote:

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 ...

No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs.

sic gloria transit mundi

ImaginalDisc · 9th November 2008, 10:40 AM

Link. Liiiiiink.

geni · 9th November 2008, 10:45 AM

Minor fighting in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In other relgious news pope is still a catholic.

Wolfman · 9th November 2008, 11:02 AM

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.

SteveGrenard · 9th November 2008, 11:05 AM

You can read as many accounts of the holy war in Jerusalem that you want to at:

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

The BBC account in the OP is:

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

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

Quote:

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.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct...ulcher,00.html

Hmm…cement their hold? Okay. Good idea.

I Ratant · 9th November 2008, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by SteveGrenard

...

No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs.

sic gloria transit mundi

.
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.

Silentknight · 9th November 2008, 07:41 PM

Wasn't this a scene from fighting game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias?

Psi Baba · 12th November 2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by Silentknight

Wasn't this a scene from fighting game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias?

Maybe EA Sports will come out with Bible Brawl '09!

PhantomWolf · 13th November 2008, 03:21 PM

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.

mrbaracuda · 13th November 2008, 04:22 PM

Stupid Christians!

Safe-Keeper · 13th November 2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Maybe EA Sports will come out with Bible Brawl '09!

Gasp! The Panzer Cardinal ripped Pat Robertson's heart out?! This blasphemy is offensive to Christians!

PhantomWolf · 13th November 2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by mrbaracuda

Stupid Christians!

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"?

GreNME · 13th November 2008, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by PhantomWolf

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"?

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!

9th November 2008, 10:16 AM	#1
SteveGrenard Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wherever the airline sends my luggage Posts: 5,528	Monks brawl at Holy Shrine 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... Quote: 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. This one will not go away soon. Here’s a google entry for the guardian’s account: Quote: '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 ... And then there’s this one: Quote: 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 ... No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs. sic gloria transit mundi
	__________________ "We are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization” Pierre Rehov Last edited by SteveGrenard; 9th November 2008 at 10:32 AM.

9th November 2008, 10:40 AM	#2
ImaginalDisc Proactive Untwister of Octagonal Hippopotamus Pants Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 10,225	Link. Liiiiiink.
	__________________ Definition: 'Love' is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope. Statement: This definition, I am told, is subject to interpretation. Obviously, love is a matter of odds. Not many meatbags could make such a shot, and fewer would derive love from it. Yet for me, love is knowing your target, putting them in your targeting reticle, and together, achieving a singular purpose, against statistically long odds. *-HK-47*

9th November 2008, 11:02 AM	#4
Wolfman Chief Solipsistic Autosycophant Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dongguan, China Posts: 11,809	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.
	__________________ The Meta-Solipsistic Autosycophant mantra: "I post, therefore I am nominated"

9th November 2008, 11:05 AM	#5
SteveGrenard Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wherever the airline sends my luggage Posts: 5,528	You can read as many accounts of the holy war in Jerusalem that you want to at: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ta...q=monks+brawl+ The BBC account in the OP is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/7718587.stm And yes, this is not the first time this has happened. Quote: 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. http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct...ulcher,00.html Hmm…cement their hold? Okay. Good idea.
	__________________ "We are facing a neurosis at the level of an entire civilization” Pierre Rehov

9th November 2008, 07:41 PM	#7
Silentknight Your rice is served Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: A straight narrow river Posts: 1,748	Wasn't this a scene from fighting game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias?
	__________________ Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, so I got out my machete and hacked my own damn path.

9th November 2008, 10:45 AM	#3
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,564	Minor fighting in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In other relgious news pope is still a catholic.

9th November 2008, 11:50 AM	#6
I Ratant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,305	Originally Posted by SteveGrenard ... No kidding. Pilgrimages have always been chancey affairs. sic gloria transit mundi . 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.

12th November 2008, 12:57 PM	#8
Psi Baba Homo Skepticalis Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Occupying my barstool Posts: 3,179	Originally Posted by Silentknight Wasn't this a scene from fighting game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias? Maybe EA Sports will come out with Bible Brawl '09!
	__________________ Save Caribbean Rum! (seriously)

13th November 2008, 03:21 PM	#9
PhantomWolf Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lost Deimos Moon Base Posts: 9,929	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.
	__________________ It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) My Apollo Page. 1 on 1 Debating Forum for Skeptics and sceptics.

13th November 2008, 04:22 PM	#10
mrbaracuda Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 3,799	Stupid Christians!

13th November 2008, 06:14 PM	#11
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,111	Quote: Maybe EA Sports will come out with Bible Brawl '09! Gasp! The Panzer Cardinal ripped Pat Robertson's heart out?! This blasphemy is offensive to Christians!

13th November 2008, 08:38 PM	#12
PhantomWolf Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lost Deimos Moon Base Posts: 9,929	Originally Posted by mrbaracuda Stupid Christians! 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"?
	__________________ It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) My Apollo Page. 1 on 1 Debating Forum for Skeptics and sceptics.

13th November 2008, 08:48 PM	#13
GreNME Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 8,283	Originally Posted by PhantomWolf 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"? 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!
	__________________ _{Like love, criminals will always find a way. -- foxholeatheist The kind of pacifism I endorse is brought about by eliminating one enemy combatant at a time.-- JoeyDonuts}