The bishop stabbed during a sermon at a church in Sydney’s southwest on Monday was warned of a threat to his life in the weeks before the incident.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley during an incident broadcast on the church’s live stream.
His alleged attacker, a 15-year-old boy dressed all in black, was seen approaching and then stabbing the bishop several times, raining blows on his head and upper body on the altar as parishioners screamed and ran to the cleric’s aid.
In February, Bishop Mar Mari revealed that he had been warned he would die within weeks following threats made on social media.
“A video has circulated on TikTok and I don’t know where else, saying that the bishop has two weeks to live,” he said in a sermon.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel stabbed at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley – an incident broadcast on the church’s live stream (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 on the scene).
‘Someone says: “Goodbye bishop, we are very sad to see you go.”
‘Look, I was so excited when I heard that I have two weeks to live. Because I don’t want to stay in this world. For me it’s over.
“Whether I stay or not, that doesn’t really matter.” I’ve had my share of this world. And I ask that the Lord take me today before tomorrow, I want to be with him.’
Bishop Mar Mari said that if he died, it would not be a “flight” or a “flight.”
‘I say it with confidence in the Lord Jesus, I love you, Lord, and I choose you,’ he said.
‘At any time of the day, all day long, to be with you. I don’t care about the world or what the world offers.
‘Thank the person who made this video. Thank you so much. I didn’t know I would die in two weeks.
‘I’m not sure if I’ll go in two weeks; maybe I don’t know,” he said before dismissing any suggestion that he was battling health issues.
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think I’m sick and I’m dying.”
The video of his sermon ends with the bishop saying, “Some of them heard it and said, ‘Yeah, we’re finally getting rid of this old bishop.'”
‘Sorry guys. I’m still sitting in your heart,’ she laughed.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested after stabbing the bishop, sparking riots when an angry mob clashed with police.
Police declared the incident a terrorist attack as New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged calm on Monday night after Bishop’s stabbing.
“Those violent images are probably what caused the uproar in the community, people saw that, they responded and unfortunately we ended up with a public order incident,” NSW Acting Deputy Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters.
The suspect was “known to police,” Holland said, and was not a regular church attendee.
Minns said the scene was disturbing but urged calm, adding he had called a meeting of faith leaders representing western Sydney faith communities on Monday night.
He said they “endorsed and supported a unanimous condemnation of violence in any form, asked the community to follow the instructions of first responders and police, and called for calm in the community.”
“We call on everyone to act with kindness and mutual respect,” he said.
NSW Ambulance said they were called to the church at around 7.15pm and sent several paramedics to the scene.
New South Wales Police said two clergymen were taken to hospital.
The church said Bishop Emmanuel and a senior priest were in stable condition and also called for calm.
“We ask for your prayers at this time,” the church said in a statement posted on social media.
‘We also kindly ask all members of the church to leave in peace, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ teaches us.’
Holland said a 15-year-old suspect “sustained hand injuries as a result of his actions.”
He said church parishioners restrained the stabbing suspect until police arrived.
“Police were in the process of removing the young man from the church when it was identified that a large group had gathered outside,” Holland said.
“The decision was made to retain the young man in the church for his safety.”
The crowd continued to gather outside the church and “a public order incident developed requiring police from all regions of Sydney.”
Holland said more than 100 police officers and 30 police vehicles attended and the suspect was then removed from the church.
Two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured by members of the crowd who broke into “several houses to obtain weapons and throw them at the police.”
More than 20 police cars were damaged.
Holland said some members of the group also threw objects at the church in an attempt to gain access to the suspect.
“They need to let the police do their job and let us do the investigation,” he said.
“Police will make future arrests in relation to this public order incident,” Mr Holland said.