Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel of the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, Australia, was stabbed multiple times in the middle of a live-streamed service.
Footage of the sermon shows a dark-skinned man in a black jacket approaching the bearded clergyman while he is speaking before flying at him with a knife. Parishioners at the church can be heard shrieking in horror before rushing forward to stop the attack.
“Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a location on Welcome Street, Wakeley, following reports a number of people were stabbed,” confirmed New South Wales police.
Mar Mari is a vocal critic of Islam and has a substantial following on social media. Clips of his preaching often go viral on TikTok, causing him to be dubbed the “TikTok Bishop.”
He was previously a bishop of the Ancient Church of the East, which is separate from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox communions. He was excommunicated in 2014.
Mari Mari Emmanuel, Bishop of Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, Australia, has been stabbed multiple times in the middle of a live-streamed service. pic.twitter.com/nwCSy90Edv
— Jack Montgomery (@JackBMontgomery) April 15, 2024