ianyan magazine/odds & ends

Merry Christmas, here’s your gift:

In the spirit of holiday giving, Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks took it upon themselves to exchange gifts, except they weren’t the kind of presents you would normally expect. Around 100 priests hurled brooms at each other in Bethlehem’s Church of Nativity as they were cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas, which both cultural groups celebrate.

The outburst, broken up by baton and shield-wielding Palestinian police,  came to head as the Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics, who each control a portion of the church along with Roman Catholics, believed to be built over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus, got into the scuffle over a ‘turf war.’

Read more: That’s the Spirit: Armenian and Greek Orthodox Monks in Broom Fight