Monks and priests from the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches went at it once again at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the church which marks where Jesus was born. An estimated 100 monks began to hit each other with brooms while others launched them across the nave. The Palestinian Authority police had to intervene to end the altercation.
Custody of the basilica is shared by the Greek, Armenian and Catholic Churches. The relations between these churches is oftentimes tense even though there is already a very rigid rule in place to regulate the shared custody of the landmark. Whenever these fights break out in Bethlehem or at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, brooms and punching are in the picture.
You will laugh as you watch the video below, but after the good laugh a sad and troubling thought arises: How can it be that where Jesus was born, He who came to reconcile all things to the Father, there can be such division and tension?
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