Bishop urges forgiveness and calm following church stabbing
‘I say to him, you’re my son. I love you. And I will always pray for you and whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well.’
The Orthodox Christian bishop, who was stabbed in the chest while conducting a livestream service in Western Sydney, expressed forgiveness towards the attacker and encouraged his followers not to seek revenge.
In his first public comments following the incident, Mar Mari Emmanuel, the Assyrian bishop of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, mentioned that he was “doing fine” and recovering quickly.
“We thank the Lord Jesus, so there is no need to be worried or concerned,” he assured.
During a live stream on April 16, Mr. Emmanuel was attacked by a man wielding a knife while giving a sermon at the church’s altar. The attacker, suspected of recently converting to Islam, was apprehended by the police after injuring the bishop and losing a finger during the assault.
In a four-minute audio posted online, the bishop urged Christians to embody the teachings of Christ. He emphasized the importance of responding to evil with goodness instead of seeking retaliation.
Despite the traumatic event, Mr. Emmanuel expressed forgiveness towards the assailant, stating, “I say to him, you’re my son. I love you. And I will always pray for you and whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well.”
He emphasized his gratitude and love towards everyone, regardless of their faith, echoing the message of loving one’s neighbor as oneself.
Following the incident, the bishop called for calm as a riot ensued outside the church, resulting in the arrest of the first perpetrator involved in the unrest.
Mr. Emmanuel advised his followers to cooperate with law enforcement and refrain from engaging in violent acts, emphasizing the importance of prayer and non-violent resolutions.
Despite the challenges faced, the bishop remained steadfast in his message of love and compassion towards all individuals, highlighting the importance of remaining law-abiding citizens and showing respect to authority figures.
The police commissioner labeled the incident as a terrorist act and assured that all perpetrators involved in the riot would be prosecuted accordingly.
While the situation remains tense, efforts are being made to address the underlying issues and prevent further violence from erupting.
AAP contributed to this report.
