Sydney Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel Prayed for his Attacker After Stabbing
At least four people were injured in the incident
Bishop Mari Mari Emmanuel of the Assyrian Church in Wakeley, Sydney, was among those injured in the alleged stabbing attack during a church service on Monday night.
The 63-year-old was stabbed in the abdomen and chest during the service at the Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley, in Sydney’s south-west.
In a statement, the Assyrian Church in Australia and New Zealand said Bishop Emmanuel was in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
“Our prayers are with His Grace Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and the entire parish community at this difficult time,” the statement said.
A video online appears to show Bishop Emmanuel being attacked during the service.
According to Councillor Steve Christou, who appeared on Sunrise on Tuesday morning, Bishop Emmanuel prayed for his attacker after he was stabbed.
“He’s a very, very forgiving man,” Christou said.
“He said, ‘I forgive him, I pray for him.’
“That’s the sort of man he is.”
Police said they were called to the church at around 8pm on Monday night following reports of a stabbing incident.
They said a man in his 20s had been arrested at the scene and was being questioned by police.
The motive for the attack is not yet known.
Bishop Emmanuel is the spiritual leader of the Assyrian Church in Australia and New Zealand.
He was born in Iraq and came to Australia in 1990.
He is known for his work in promoting interfaith dialogue and for his efforts to help Assyrian refugees.
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