Worshippers kicked and punched each other until Israeli police eventually restored order [AFP]

An Armenian and a Greek Orthodox monk were arrested after the brawl, police said on Sunday.

Dozens of worshippers, dressed in traditional vestments of their sects, kicked and punched each other, knocking down tapestries and overturning decorations at the site in east Jerusalem.

Police officers eventually restored order at the church, which followers believe is both the traditional site of the crucifixion and contains Jesus's tomb.

Both sides blamed each other for the violence, with one Armenian monk saying that Greek Orthodox worshippers attempted to place their monk inside the tomb - which he said is not permitted.

'Violation'

"What is happening here is a violation of [the] status quo, the Greek [sic] have tried so many times to put their monk inside the tomb but they don't have the right to put their monk inside the tomb when the Armenians are celebrating the feast," he said.

The fight broke out during the Feast of the Cross, during which the Armenian community marks what they believe was the fourth-century discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

However, Greek Orthodox clergy denied they were responsible for the brawl.

"We protested peacefully, we stood here in the middle and we claimed that we shall not leave the procession ... unless they leave our guardian inside. This didn't happen and in that moment the police interfered," he said.

"We tried our best not to use violence against the police or against the Armenians because this is our attitude - peaceful, co-access on the holy sites."

Fights are not uncommon in the Church of the Holy Supulchre between representatives of the various Christian sects who jealously guard their sections of and rights of access to the site.

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