- Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel forgives his attacker after being stabbed during a church service in Sydney.
- Recovery is swift, and the bishop reassures his followers not to worry.
- The incident follows another stabbing at a Bondi beach shopping center, shocking the community.
Eko hot blog reports that In the aftermath of a knife attack at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel assured his followers on Thursday that he was swiftly on the road to recovery and harbored no ill will towards his assailant.
The incident, which occurred during a service on Monday night, has rattled the community, coming on the heels of another stabbing at a Bondi beach shopping center that claimed six lives just days earlier.
“I am doing fine, recovering very quickly … there is no need to be worried or concerned,” reassured Bishop Emmanuel in an audio message shared on social media, marking his first public remarks since the attack.
“I forgive whoever has done this act … I will always pray for you and whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well.”
Bishop Emmanuel, known for his presence on TikTok and his controversial sermons touching on topics like homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, and Islam, sustained injuries in the assault, which authorities suspect to be a terrorist act driven by religious extremism.
In the wake of the attack, a male teenager has been apprehended, sparking outrage among some members of the community who demanded vigilante justice.
However, Bishop Emmanuel implored his congregation to remain composed and abide by the law.
As investigations into both incidents continue, plans are underway to reopen the Bondi Junction mall on Thursday, allowing individuals to pay their respects to the victims.
Normal business operations are expected to resume the following day.
“We’ve gone from shock to disbelief to now grief, and it’s gonna take quite a time for people to be able to process,” remarked Paula Masselos, mayor of the local council, speaking to ABC television.
A candlelight vigil is slated for Sunday as the community grapples with the aftermath, with a growing display of flowers and bouquets serving as a makeshift memorial to honor the victims.