Israeli Police Break Up Fight Between Monks In Church of Holy Sepulcher

The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli police entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher last Sunday and arrested two monks after a fight broke out between them at the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. The dispute between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks involved a Greek Orthodox attempt to place a monk inside what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus. The incident occurred during the annual Armenian procession commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used for Jesus' crucifixion. Total Catholic reported yesterday that a Franciscan official said the altercation resulted from confusion over "Status Quo Agreements" that regulate the way that six Christian groups divide control over the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. [Thanks to Religion and State in Israel for the lead.]