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Middle East

Israeli police wary of Christian violence

2003-04-26

Police on Friday drastically cut the number of worshippers to be allowed at an Orthodox Easter ceremony Saturday, seeking to prevent a repeat of last year's violence among Christian groups. Attendance Saturday will be limited to just a few hundred - compared to some 10,000 in past years - because Greek Orthodox and Armenian clergy failed to settle a dispute over who should lead the ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, police said Friday. Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter last Sunday. At last year's ceremony, Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests exchanged blows.

Ohfergawdsake! It's something in the water there, isn't it?

At Saturday service, known as the Holy Fire ceremony, flaming candles will be passed quickly through a crowd during the ceremony, and Israeli says any tension at the Holy Fire ceremony could constitute a danger to public safety. The church has only one exit.

So try not to set fire to anybody, okay?

The Holy Fire ceremony has been observed by Eastern Orthodox churches for several centuries. It is meant to assure the worshippers that Jesus has not forgotten them and is sending a message of hope through the fire.

... and the clerical fistfights.

Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#4 The intricate property rights and religious responsibilities for Christian sites in the Holy Land are astounding. There are branches of both Orthodox and Uniate Catholicism that exist primarily because they have rights to a few square meters of a holy site. 2-3,000 practioners worldwide, but they have the right to the left side of the fourth nave in the Church.

And they're always willing to fight about it. Makes the Taiwanewse Parliment look like a kindergarten.

Posted by: Chuck 2003-04-27 05:37:00

#3 Certainly takes Mass destruction to another level, doesn't it?

Posted by: Mark IV 2003-04-26 21:26:51

#2 It's things like this and Northern Ireland that remind me the Muslims have no monopoly on religious fanatics.

Posted by: Dar 2003-04-26 15:15:02

#1 They've been going at it hammer and tongs for a long time. It's one of the reasons Israel maintains a governing structure for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that was originally implemented by the Ottomans. The Christian churches have been unable to govern the place peacefully.

Posted by: Christopher Johnson 2003-04-26 14:15:27

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