Christian worshippers were almost stopped from holding a Pentecost service in Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday after hundreds of Jewish protesters gathered outside the ceremony.
The service was due to take place at the remains of a Byzantine church, the Hagia Zion, which Greek Orthodox Christians believe is where the Last Supper was held. By law, Christians are allowed to hold ceremonies in the building three times a year, but the arrangement has been contested by Jewish radicals, particularly in recent years. According to Jewish tradition, the ground floor of the building houses the tomb of King David and Christians worshipping in the space is therefore considered idolatrous.
According to the Jewish Post, protesters tried to block access to the building by holding a mass prayer service. Organiser Yehudah Puah said the hope was "to prevent the desecration of King David's tomb by an idolatrous ceremony of the Greek Church."
Jerusalem Municipality council member Arieh King told the Ultra-Orthodox B'hadrei Haredim website: "we have gathered here to sanctify God's name. The debasement of this holy place will not be allowed to take place."
On his Facebook page ahead of the protest, King accused the Greek Church of "seeking to hurt the feelings of the Jews" and urged others to join him in campaigning against the ceremony.
"The battle over the future of David's Tomb continues. I came this morning to pray at the grave site of the king of Israel, King David, on Mount Zion. The Greek Church today is seeking to hurt the feelings of the Jews and to conduct an idolatrous ceremony at the grave of our king, King David," he wrote.
"I canceled [sic] all my meetings and plans to be part of the mass prayer and singing and learning taking place now, until this evil decree is removed."
Hundreds heeded his call, many of them, according to reports, members of the Breslov Hassidic community. However, police were able to escort Christians into the building where they held the ceremony.
