A bishop who was reportedly stabbed during a live-streamed sermon claims he’s ‘fine’ and has forgiven his suspected assailant.
On Monday night, a 16-year-old kid approached the altar at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney’s south-west, and reportedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel many times while he spoke.
An ambulance whisked Bishop Emmanuel away to Liverpool Hospital.
In an audio clip shared on social media, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel made his first public remarks since the incident, reassuring people that he was doing well and recuperating rapidly.
The incident caused a riot to break out outside the church. As they demanded the surrender of the alleged assailant, an angry mob clashed with emergency personnel outside the church.
The bishop assured everyone that he was getting well “very quickly,” which put everyone at ease.
Prompting everyone to behave ” Christ-like, “he offered some words of wisdom, saying that, According to Bishop Emmanuel, Jesus did not command his disciples to go to war. He never taught the idea of revenge.
He told his flock they must never forget they are Christians and live accordingly.
The authorities have not yet interrogated or charged the teenager.
Two recent knife attacks in Sydney have startled inhabitants of Australia’s most populated city. The first occurred at a famous retail mall near Bondi Beach on Saturday, killing six people. The second incident occurred Monday at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney’s west.
Authorities have announced that the Bondi Junction mall will reopen on Thursday, allowing visitors to pay their respects to the victims while police continue their investigation.
Council Mayor Paula Masselos told ABC News that the community is “going from shock to disbelief to grief” and that it would take a long time for people to understand what has happened.
She said that on Sunday, there would be a candlelight vigil, and bouquets and flowers would be piled up at a temporary monument.
