A bishop who was stabbed during a livestreamed church service in Sydney prayed for his alleged attacker moments after he was injured.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley – an incident broadcast on the church’s livestream.
His alleged attacker, a 15-year-old boy dressed in all-black, was seen approaching and stabbing the bishop multiple times to the head and upper body at the altar as parishioners screamed and ran to the cleric’s aid.
In a stunning twist, Councillor Steve Christou from the Cumberland City Council confirmed Bishop Mar Mari was praying for this alleged attacker.
‘It just shows the remarkable courage of a man and forgiveness he has within him to pray for his alleged attacker,’ he told Channel Seven’s Matt Doran on Tuesday.
After the attack, a furious mob of around 2000 people swarmed near the church with riots breaking out and police struggling to maintain order.
Cr Christou said the majority of people who showed up to the church were in support of the wellbeing of the ‘beloved’ bishop.
‘However the actions of a few are not representative of the Western Sydney community and people,’ he said.
‘I just call for calm, peace, show forgiveness. This is a time for the community to come together and let love, peace and unit triumph over hate.’
It comes as police confirmed the attacker was known to police.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley – an incident broadcast on the church’s livestream (pictured)
A 15-year-old boy known to police has been arrested over the incident (he is pictured being held down by at least three people before police arrived at the scene)
The streets surrounding the Good Shepherd Church were littered with glass and rubbish
Police tape encircled the church on Tuesday morning as police continue their investigation
A wooden fence paling was seen on the road outside the church
Shards of glass and bricks were scattered across the pavement
Police said the boy had serious hand injuries amid rumours his finger was cut off during the melee. Officers had to barricade themselves inside the church with the boy for several hours as the violence continued outside.
‘Reports are that he has injuries to his hands – I don’t know the extent of those injuries at this point,’ NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told media.
He added: ‘His injuries are quite severe in his hand, he’s fairly upset and fairly distraught.’
He has been taken to an undisclosed location where he remains under police guard.
During the pandemic, Bishop Mar Mari gained notoriety for his criticism of vaccines and lockdowns and his belief that Covid ‘was just another type of flu’.
Bishop Mar Mari is a respected leader of an ultra-conservative sect of the Assyrian orthodox who has gained thousands of followers on social media.
Bishop Mar Mari (pictured) is a respected leader of an ultra-conservative sect of the Assyrian orthodox who has gained thousands of followers on social media
In addition to his criticisms of coronavirus measures, he also criticised American and Russian politics, going as far to claim the United Nations was founded by Satan.
The popular church leader was ordained as a priest in 2009 and a bishop in 2011.
His pastoral message on the website reads: ‘In our time and age, we believe the most important and fundamental insight is coming into the truth.
‘The world bombards the human race with so much information, quite often we lose our orientation in discerning the lie from the truth.’
More to come.
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