Another Brawl at the Holy Sepulchre

John Couretas | November 9, 2008

Maybe it’s time to put these on pay-per-view, like they do for the cage fighters. Here’s the report from AP on those brawlin’ monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem:

A bearded Armenian monk in a red-and-pink robe and a black-clad Greek Orthodox monk with a bloody gash on his forehead were both taken away in handcuffs after scuffling with dozens of riot police.

Six Christian sects divide control of the ancient church. They regularly fight over turf and influence, and Israeli police are occasionally forced to intervene.

Note to AP: The Orthodox Church is not a “sect.” Note to monks: I teach my Sunday School class that Christianity is The Way of brotherly love, peacemaking, and mastery of the passions. You are not making my job easier.