The clergy met in a melee in the church of the Nativity
December 31, 2009 – 2:00 am
Greek and Armenian priests came to blows in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the territory of the Palestinian National Authority, handed over on Wednesday, the Athens News Agency.
brawl took place on Tuesday during cleaning the premises of the temple, built on the spot where, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was born. Cleaning takes place every year just before Christmas, celebrated by the old style, by agreement of different faiths who share the temple together.
According to the Greeks, before the “subbotnik” was signed agreement in which the process of harvesting was regulated in detail. However, according to the Greek monks, when they began cleaning in conjunction with Catholic Franciscan in one of the chapels of the temple, the Armenians did not allow them to install a ladder to clean the decoration of the church.
There was a fight. On the Greek side has suffered five clerics, in particular Hieromonk Matthew broke two fingers, and ierodiakon Athanasius injured back. On the Armenian side the losses are not reported.
police intervened separated the fighters, and cleaning continue the peace, Gazeta.ru reports.
