generalspeaking

Saintly Brotherhood

Holy Cow! Is it to be believed how utterly petty, truculent and small-minded people can be? All the more so when on this occasion these are men of the cloth, priests and monks, ensconced in one of the most ancient, storied and venerated churches in the world. Located in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity is said to have been built on the very site where Christ was born.

That, for those who are historically-challenged, was two millennia ago. The church was built in the 6th Century; now that is truly venerable. It hasn't had a new roof in 150 years. Agreement must be sought to proceed. Because its custodian-residents simply find it too awkward, too relentlessly irritating to have to deal with one another as co-located, joint responders.

There are three denominations of Christianity represented there.

And their animosity toward one another is legendary. Particularly between the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian denominations who traditionally have beset one another in un-brotherly violent aggression. This is Christian jousting, taking place with crude implements like truncheons or brooms.

There is an annual co-operative' clean-up after Christmas. The Latin, the Orthodox and the Armenian churches agree to tackle the job of bringing some order to the state of the church's tidyness. But the joint cleaning ceremonies seem to bring out the ire in each of the groups, inspiring them to set-to against one another.

A sturdy, determined brawl ensues, and Bethlehem police are called upon to separate the belligerents. Who do their job of bringing peace and tranquility to the site. It is the police who do this. Not the brethren-in-faith whom, it could logically be assumed, might consider that to be their singular preoccupation, not imposing bruises upon one another.

None of whom, obviously, gives thought at that juncture, of the original purpose of the site, where it is believed that a stable had once existed where two tired travellers took shelter when there was none to be had elsewhere, and where Mary, heavy with child and travelling with her husband Joseph, celebrated the birth of that child in a manger.

There, where the Church of the Nativity now stands, and has stood, since antiquity. Rather than be in awe of their surroundings and its meaning for them, and linking themselves in affection and shared trust, these stalwarts of the Christian Church, at a time and in a region where Christianity is afflicted by threats and violence from other religions, battle one another.

Labels: Human Relations, Middle East, Religion

posted by Pieface @ Thursday, December 29, 2011