As a journalist, unknowingly I believe, you have embarked into an area you do not understand by writing, “When the Coptic monks, who had controlled the area (since when?) went to pray in the main church and left the rooftop unattended, Ethiopian monks seized the opportunity to change the locks at the entrance before the cops returned.” This for me looks like you are telling a story from a movie you saw yesterday night. The dispute between our Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church is very complex for you to understand. Just to give you a starting point, I would recommend you to read and research what the Bible says about the the city of God (Israel) and Ethiopia.

Like your story, many of God’s words in the so called current Bibles like “THE LIVING BIBLE” are distorted for their own consumtion. I will quote from a Bible translated out of the original tongues set forth A.D.1611. Psalms 87:1-7 talks about “The Privileges of Citizenship(ownership) in Zion”
1.His foundation is in the Holy mountains. 2.Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob. 3.Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. 4.I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know me: Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This one was born there. I will leave the rest and the understanding to you.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.