Wakeley church stabbing: Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel makes emotional return to Christ The Good Shepherd Church

An Assyrian Christian bishop who was allegedly stabbed has emotionally returned to his pulpit to deliver a fiery sermon defending freedom of speech while criticizing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was allegedly attacked by a 16-year-old boy during a livestream of his sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s south-west on April 15, in horrific scenes that shocked Australia and the world.

Less than a fortnight later, he received a standing ovation from parishioners when he returned to the altar on Sunday evening to deliver a sermon for Palm Sunday, part of Orthodox Easter.

With a white eyepatch over his right eye and a gold cross in his hand, Bishop Emmanuel stood at the same spot where he was allegedly stabbed and began his service in Arabic.

Days after expressing his wish that footage of his alleged attack remain online, the bishop called out Mr. Albanese in an impassioned defense of freedom of speech and religion.

Bishop Emmanuel said he cannot “fathom” how freedom of expression could not be possible in a democratic country like Australia.

On April 15, Bishop Emmanuel was reportedly stabbed by a 16-year-old. The attack caused riots in the streets surrounding the church

“I say to our loved ones, the Australian Government, and our beloved Prime Minister, the Honorable Mr Albanese: I believe in one thing and that is the integrity and identity of man,” he said.

‘This human identity, this human integrity, is a gift from God, no one else.

“Every person has the right to freedom of expression and religion… I do not have to worry about my life being exposed to threats or having it taken away from me.”

He pointed out that Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and atheists have the right to express their beliefs.

“Christians also have the right to express their beliefs, and the fact that we can say that freedom of expression is dangerous, that freedom of expression is not possible in a democratic country, I have yet to understand,” he continued.

‘We as civilized people, as intellectuals, should be able to criticize, to speak, and perhaps at certain times we might sound, or we might be offensive to some extent, but we should be able to to say, ‘I don’t have to worry about my life being exposed to threats or my life being taken away.’

‘A non-Christian can criticize my faith, can attack my faith. I want to say one thing: ‘May God forgive you and may God bless you.

‘This is a civilized way, an intellectual way of approaching such events.

‘If we say that this freedom of expression causes dramas and dilemmas, everything must be censored. Where is democracy, where is humanity, where is integrity?’

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel (pictured center) delivered the Orthodox Palm Sunday sermon on Sunday evening, wearing an eye patch over his right eye. he is depicted during a standing ovation

Bishop Emmanuel had a message for his alleged attacker on Sunday evening, after previously forgiving him.

“I love you and I will always pray for you,” he said.

Bishop Emmanuel became emotional as he thanked the many people who sent letters or flowers, including multifaith leaders from Sydney and abroad, as well as members of the city council, local organizations and the Abdallah family.

He appeared to be wiping away tears as he read through his long list of well-wishers.

“I owe them a debt of gratitude for the rest of my life, forever,” he said.

Church priest Father Isaac Royel was also injured in the incident, which was later declared a terrorist attack.

Earlier in the day, Father Royel also returned to work as he joined the congregation for the Palm Sunday morning service.

Father Isaac Royel (pictured immediately after being released from hospital two days after the attack) also returned to the church for the Sunday morning service

Secretary to the Bishop Daniel Kochou said Father Royel is back, but he is not sure if he will return full-time. The Daily Telegraph reported.

“People are a bit shocked, but the other thing is that most of our people were born in Iraq or Syria, so they are used to conflict. Their faith is strong,” he said.

The church released an eleven-minute video on Thursday in which Bishop Emmanuel calls for the images of his attack to remain online.

This was after Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant told X and Meta to remove the footage.

“I recognize the Australian government’s desire to have the videos removed due to their explicit nature,” Bishop Emmanuel said.

“It would be of great importance if people used the attack on me to serve their own political interests and control freedom of expression.”