The Chapel is claimed by both the Egyptian Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Church. The dispute began some 350 years ago when the Egyptians purportedly allowed Ethiopian monks into the chapel as guests. They never left and later invited themselves into the monastery next door as well. The Ethiopians say that the Chapel is now theirs and claim they even held the deeds - until the Egyptians burnt them. That was in 1838. In 1970, to consolidate their claim, the Ethiopians waited until the Egyptians were attending mass at another church and promptly changed all the locks. "Why they took it from us?" asks a Coptic priest indignantly.The Israeli High Court has ruled that the chapel belongs to the Egyptians but Israel is reluctant to enforce the decision for fear of causing offence, as Ethiopia has a sizeable Jewish population. It seems this stalemate may continue for some time.