THE annual cleaning of one of Christianity’s holiest churches deteriorated into a brawl between rival clergy as dozens of monks feuding over sacred space at the Church of the Nativity battled each other with brooms until police intervened.

The annual cleaning of one of Christianity’s holiest churches deteriorated into a brawl between rival clergy today, as dozens of monks feuding over sacred space at the Church of the Nativity battled each other with brooms until police intervened.