While some Armenian worshippers were able to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 

for the Holy Fire Ceremony, about 500 Armenian pilgrims were prevented from entering. 

Upon showing Israeli police the special entry permits that were issued by the police 

themselves, the Armenian pilgrims were still denied entrance to the church on the pretext

that there was not enough space in the church. 

Eyewitness accounts from inside the church, however, indicated that only one third of the

Armenian section within the church was filled with approximately 200 Armenian worshippers.

This action by the police led to a rise in tensions between the Armenian worshippers and the 

Israeli police. An ensuing scuffle between the two sides resulted in the arrest of several 

Armenians, including community leader Serop Sahagian. In another incident, two Orthodox 

Jews disrupted a procession of Armenian Scouts, which precipitated a scuffle between them

and resulted in the arrest of two Armenian scouts. Moreover, both Armenian scouts were 

beaten and taken to the Police station. 

During the questioning, about 800 members of the Armenian community gathered in front of 

the Israeli police station demanding the release of the five Armenians inside. Meanwhile, 

the priestly procession that was returning back to the Armenian Cathedral of St. James, 

led by Patriarch Mesrob and Archbishop Manougian, stopped in front of the Israeli Police 

station and demanded the release of the Armenians being held inside. 

After long deliberations, the Israeli Police agreed to release the Armenian detainees in order

 to ease rising tensions in front of the police station.

On the same day at around 8pm at the Homenetmen Jerusalem Centre's main hall a party has 

taken place for the occasion of Easter where more than 100 members and supporters of the

organization were gathered.