His sermons are live-streamed on the Facebook and YouTube channels of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, which have a combined following of 255,000 users. His popularity has garnered online fan pages with thousands of people following and showing their support for him. He has taken part in interviews on various conservative YouTube shows where he has spoken about religion and criticized homosexuality and the Australian COVID-19 policy.[3]
On 15 April 2024, Emmanuel and five others were stabbed at his church during a livestreamed sermon. The Police Commissioner of NSW Karen Webb, later declared it a terrorist attack. Emmanuel lost his right eye from the attack.[3]
In August 2011, Mar Yacoub Daniel and Mar Zaia Khoshaba consecrated Emmanuel as a suffragan bishop for the Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, assisting the Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand. Previously known as Emmanuel Shlimon, he adopted the episcopal name of Mari Emmanuel (after Saint Mari) at the time of becoming a bishop.[1][4]
In July 2013, while on a visit to Australia, Mar Addai II bestowed the patriarchal confirmation upon Emmanuel. However, at the time he ordered Emmanuel to make changes in regard to a range of different aspects of his priestly operation, including liturgical and theological aspects, as well as his social conduct. When the patriarch's deadline expired, Addai II suspended Emmanuel's priesthood in July 2014, on the grounds of disobeying canons promulgated by the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325. His suspension was briefly withdrawn in December 2014, when Emmanuel declared his acceptance of the patriarchal decrees, but renewed when he expressed his disagreement a second time.[5][failed verification] For a period of time, Emmanuel preached at Saint Zaia Cathedral in Middleton Grange, New South Wales.[6]
Independent church
In January 2015, Emmanuel established himself as bishop of an independent church in the East Syriac tradition, in Wakeley, Christ the Good Shepherd Church.[7] As of 2023, he is not listed as a clergyman in the Ancient Church of the East's Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and Lebanon.[8]
Social media presence
Emmanuel has gained popularity through social media, such as Christ the Good Shepherd Church's YouTube channel and TikTok, which earned him the nickname "TikTok Bishop". The bishop's sermons on social media have ranged from homilies on the Holy Bible to fervent criticisms of LGBT ideals, COVID vaccinations, and U.S. President Joe Biden—expressing disapproval of Biden's support for gay rights—while simultaneously preaching a number of Christian values, like honesty, moderation and humility. [9] He is a staunch critic of liberal Christianity.[10]
The bishop is usually dressed in a dark pulpit gown, where he holds a large cross, and displays his beard under a black cowl (as per Orthodox tradition).[9] His sermons are delivered in both English and Assyrian at the Wakeley church and on Facebook and YouTube. In addition, he offers Sunday school classes for children and a youth group ministry.[3] Clips from his live-streamed church sermons have been re-uploaded on social media and have amassed millions of views.[11] His online presence combined with his views have made him a target for criticism, hate speech, and internet trolling.[9]
He has appeared on YouTube podcasts such as PBD Podcast and Valuetainment with Patrick Bet-David and Vincent Oshana, where the videos have received over one million views.[12] Another such podcast is titled Satan Has Engulfed the Churches, where Emmanuel expresses his opinions on Pope Francis "going woke".[13][1] Amidst the Israel–Hamas war, he has called for peace and has expressed support for Palestinians in Gaza.[3][14] In early 2024, he visited Gaza during the ongoing conflict.[14]
Controversies
On 19 July 2021, amid the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant outbreaks and the lockdown in Sydney, Emmanuel presented an online sermon that reprimanded the COVID-19 vaccinations and lockdowns calling them "mass slavery",[11] and saying that COVID-19 is "[…] just another type of the flu, no more, no less […]" and called the pandemic a "plandemic". In one of his videos, he implored Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to do more and aid those with financial and emotional adversity, in addition to saying, "Have we really lost the plot?"[15][16]
In addition to criticising non-Christian religions, such as Judaism and Islam, the Bishop is also known for preaching Anti-LGBT sermons and describing homosexuality as a "crime in the eyes of God". As critic of Islam, in one of his sermons he stated, "Islam flourished and expanded with the sword". In addition, he has supported former American President and 47th President-Elect Donald Trump, and implored him to remain faithful to Christianity and defy the influence of Freemasons.[9] In a sermon of his posted and translated by his fans, he claimed that the United Nations was a "Harlot" and built on lies that originate from Satan compared to being built on inferred-truth or honesty "of Christ"[11][17] (at 5m:25s - 6m:35s in the video), in addition to labeling the World Health Organization a "fraud".[2]
In addition, some Christians accused him of being a follower of Nestorianism, a doctrine condemned as heresy at the Council of Ephesus, a charge that he denied.
On 15 April 2024, shortly after 7:00 pm, Emmanuel was attacked by a 16-year-old during a sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church.[18][19][20] At a pulpit, the assailant set upon Emmanuel from the latter’s right and stabbed the bishop repeatedly with a switchblade until he fell after sustaining lacerations to his head; the perpetrator then stabbed five others.[21][20][22][23] Just after the attack, Emmanuel prayed for the assailant.[24][25] According to the NSW police commissioner Karen Webb, Emmanuel underwent surgery and was "lucky to be alive".[3]
In the livestream of the sermon, the attacker spoke in Arabic, shouting the phrase "Allāhu 'akbar” before stabbing Emmanuel.[26] In a video released by a churchgoer, the attacker was also heard saying "if he [the bishop] didn't insult my prophet and religion, I wouldn't have come here".[27] Police described the attack as "religiously motivated extremism"[28] and as a "terrorist act".[29] According to Emmanuel, about one month before the stabbing, threats were posted on TikTok, stating Emmanuel "has two weeks to live".[30]
Emmanuel's response
In an online audio sermon at Liverpool Hospital on the 18th of April 2024, Emmanuel again forgave the attacker—and demanded his followers not seek revenge.[31] He stated:
"Love never fails... whatever has happened to me personally I thank the Lord Jesus...I forgive whoever has done this act and I say to him, you are my son, I love you and I will always pray for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well, in Jesus' mighty name...I have nothing in my heart but love for everyone, whether this person is Christian or not, that is totally beside the point...I am doing fine, I am recovering very quickly."[31]
Ten days later on the 29th April 2024, in his first sermon after the attack—which marked the Eastern OrthodoxPalm Sunday—the bishop stated that he lost his right eye and was wearing an eyepatch. He declared his eye injury as a "sacrifice", and said it should be taken as a indication of love towards Muslims, before addressing the topic of freedom of speech.[32]
