Monday 10 November 2008

Muscular Christianity

The spirit of the fifth century is alive and well in Jerusalem, it seems. Greek and Armenian monks resorted to fisticuffs in a dispute over one of the holy places in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Read more about it here.
I feel a post about the Sepulchre coming on……

7 comments:

PeterHWright said...

Well, at least the Israeli police appear to have taken an even handed view, arresting a monk both from the Armenian and from the Greek Orthodox.

Rubricarius said...

It was strangely refreshing to see the Israeli's as the good guys keeping the peace.

The Armenian was certainly a good fighter and could pursue a career as a professional I would have guessed.

It is very sad that such aggression could take place, not for the first time and certainly not the last, near such sacred sites. Even sadder that the Old Holy Week rites were celebrated there by the Latin Christians until 1995.

gemoftheocean said...

LAdbrooks should start taking bets on which group of monks are going to whup butt more for each holiday. the annoying thing about these reports are the accounts don't say which group is better at fisticuffs.

Anonymous said...

It sounds just like when my Irish relatives get tgether, only without the gross intemperance.

Convenor said...

We’d just like to let you know about two new posts on our blog. The first is a report of a Mass in the Traditional Latin/Gregorian Rite in Co. Laois, Ireland.

http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com/2008/11/mass-for-st-paul-in-emo-co-laois.html

The second post is a report of news, just received, of a weekly Mass in Co. Meath, Ireland.

http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com/2008/11/mass-in-stamullen-co-meath.html

I hope that you’ll be able to feature both reports. Feel free to lift photos.

God bless you!

Saint Conleth’s Catholic Heritage Association

Anonymous said...

The Thunder in the Rotunda was quite something, though I don't think you can get away with hitting your opponent in the face with a thurible under Queensberry Rules. I am now musing on other possibilities for bare-knuckle ecumenism. Get me a ringside seat for Rowan 'The Wizard' Williams, the Druid from Clwyd vs. Joey 'Papa' Ratzinger, the Bavarian Octogenarian.

Anonymous said...

Would have rather seen the Armenian Monk punch a happy clappy magic circle RC priest for making a mockery of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and tradition.