[DouglasKC]

Priests from the competing sects shoved each other as part of an ancient dispute over who would emerge first with the flame they believe miraculously descends from heaven during the Easter Ceremony of the Holy Fire, celebrated this weekend by the Eastern Orthodox.
Israeli riot police quelled the small disturbance, which last year erupted in fistfights between Greek and Armenian priests and worshippers and had threatened to explode in violence again Saturday.

You have to wonder about a ceremony that generates this kind of spiritual fruit....

[Alex Murphy]

You have to wonder about a ceremony that generates this kind of spiritual fruit....

Took the words right outta my mouth. Make sure you wash your hands afterwards, okay?

What strikes me is that being first to grab this "fire" seems all-important to them, at least for this one day. What does the fire do for them afterwards? Is anyone else reminded of the pool of Bethesda in John 5? "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

[NYer]

You have to wonder about a ceremony that generates this kind of spiritual fruit....

Now, now ... they all seem to be getting along in this photo.

LOL - I would love to substitute freeper names in this thread. It would be so much fun to rewrite this story from the perspective of forum members who are familiar to us all.