Sydney church stabbing: Bishop Mar Mari’s chilling sermon months before attack warning congregation he had ‘weeks to live’

The bishop who was stabbed during a church sermon in Sydney’s south-west on Monday was warned of a threat to his life in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in an incident broadcast on the church’s livestream.

His alleged attacker, a 15-year-old boy dressed all in black, was seen approaching the bishop and then stabbing him multiple times, raining blows on his head and torso at the altar as parishioners screamed and ran to the cleric’s aid.

In February, Bishop Mar Mari revealed he had been warned he would die within weeks after threats on social media.

“There is a video circulating on TikTok and I don’t know where else, saying that the bishop has two weeks to live,” he said in a sermon.

‘Someone says, ‘Farewell Bishop, and we are very sad to see you go.’

“Look, I was super excited when I heard I had two weeks to live. Because I don’t want to stay in this world. It’s over for me.

‘Whether I stay or not doesn’t really matter. I’ve had my share of this world. And I pray that the Lord takes me today before tomorrow, I want to be with Him.”

Bishop Mar Mari said that if he died, it would not be an “escape” or “running away.”

“I say it with confidence in the Lord Jesus, I love you, Lord, and I choose you,” he said.

‘Any time of the day, all day long, to be with you. I don’t care about the world or anything the world cares about.

“Thank the person who made this video. Thank you so much. I didn’t know I was going to die in two weeks.

‘I’m not sure if I’ll go in two weeks; Maybe I don’t know,” he said before brushing off the insinuation that he was struggling with health problems.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think I’m sick, I think I’m dying.”

The video clip of his sermon ended with the bishop’s words: “Some of them heard it and said, ‘Yes, at last we have gotten rid of this old bishop.’

‘Sorry guys. I’m still on your heart,” he laughed.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested after a stabbing attack on Bishop, which sparked unrest as an angry crowd confronted police.

Police have labeled the incident a terror attack after NSW Premier Chris Minns appealed for calm following the Bishop stabbing on Monday evening.

“Those violent images probably caused the uproar in the community – people saw that, responded and unfortunately we ended up with a public order incident,” NSW Deputy Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters.

The suspect was “known to the police,” Mr. Holland said, and not a regular attendee of the church.

Mr Minns said the scene was disturbing but urged calm, adding he was convening a meeting of faith leaders representing religious communities in Sydney’s west late on Monday night.

He said they “endorsed and supported a unanimous condemnation of violence in any form, called on 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 respect for each other,” he said.

NSW Ambulance said they were called to the church at around 7.15pm and sent multiple paramedics to the scene.

NSW Police said two pastors were taken to hospital.

The church said Bishop Emmanuel and a senior priest were in a stable condition and also appealed for calm.

“We ask for your prayers at this time,” the church said in a statement on social media.

“We also kindly ask everyone in the Church to depart in peace, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ teaches.”

Holland said a 15-year-old suspect “suffered injuries to his hand as a result of his actions.”

He said the stabbing suspect was held by church parishioners until police arrived.

“Police were transporting the young man from the church when it became apparent that a large group had gathered outside,” Holland said.

“The decision was made to keep the young person in the church for his safety.”

The crowd continued to build outside the church and “a public order incident ensued, requiring police from all areas of Sydney.”

Mr Holland said more than 100 police officers and 30 police vehicles attended and the suspect was later removed from the church.

Two police officers were taken to hospital after being injured by members of the crowd who “invaded a number of houses to obtain weapons to throw at the police.”

More than twenty police cars were damaged.

Mr Holland said some in the group also threw objects at the church in an attempt to gain access to the suspect.

“They should let the police do their job and let us do the investigation,” he said.

“Police will make future arrests in connection with this public order incident,” Holland said.