Queue is a queer word, with too many letters.
I prefer to just say line.
But what to do, today is Q Day at ABC Wednesday.
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Most hours of the day there is a long queue of pilgrims wrapped around the edicule, the structure built over the tomb of Jesus inside the rotunda of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
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The entrance is narrow and the clergy on duty regulate the flow, allowing you only a brief minute inside.
There is room for only 3 or 4 inside, next to the tomb.
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The news broke this week that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in trouble.
They owe 9 million shekels (2.3 million dollars) for back payments on the water bill.
Apparently they had a tacit agreement with the late Teddy Kollek z"l, who was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, that the church would get free water.
But now the water company says that under law the company cannot do this.
And now, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which has extensive and valuable property holdings in the Holy Land and maintains a headquarters in the ancient church, had its bank account frozen.
The Greeks threatened to close the doors to the church for a day in protest.
If that were to happen, it would be a sad day in the Holy City.
'Tis a quandary.
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Read the whole story in the Jerusalem Post and more at Ynet.
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(A last contribution to Taphophile Tragics.)
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Well that is a very difficult situation for the Holy Sepulchre!
ReplyDeleteThat WOULD be a shame!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Oh gosh... I'd have a fit.
ReplyDeleteHaving been brought up French in England, a line will always be a queue (as it is in French!)
Interesting story. As Shakespeare once wrote: "How will this fadge?"
ReplyDeleteI was just reading about this elsewhere. Hope the problem gets resolved soon. Maybe they should ask all the visitors to pitch in for the bill :)
ReplyDeleteOh how money becomes the issue in almost everything!it would be interesting to see the sepulchre, but it upsets me so to see how so many things are commercialized.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone will still get a chance to see it!
ReplyDeletePS: Thanks for your translation of the gravestones. :)
I was in Jerusalem in 1986 and 1990 when there no lines and we stayed as long as we wanted. It was the same at all of the places we visited. We had the best time.
ReplyDeleteoye!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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No lines and no hurry every time I was there in the 90s. They use an awful lot of water over there...
ReplyDeleteI don't like to line up, makes me think of cattle. But today with all these tourists, you can't avoid it.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting post. I wonder how they're going to pay a bill that big.
ReplyDeleteQuite a long queue.
ReplyDeleteQuestions
Would you mind pitching an answer?
Oh dear... it certainly is a quandary. I hope they can work things out somehow.
ReplyDelete