Stabbed Assyrian Western Sydney bishop is a controversial TikTok star beloved by his community [Video]

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel who was stabbed during a church service live-streamed from Wakeley on Monday is a social media star with followers around the world, but the bearded clergyman is also a divisive preacher.

Dressed in dark robes, clutching a large cross and sporting a bushy grey beard under a black cowl, Emmanuel’s sermons from the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church range from homilies on the Bible to fiery criticisms of homosexuality, COVID vaccinations, Islam, Judaism and US President Joe Biden’s election.

The 53-year-old bishop, who has a popular youth following on TikTok and was awarded by YouTube in 2023 for hitting 100,000 subscribers, has been a target for criticism, hate and online trolling.

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On Monday night a teen boy stabbed him and other worshippers with a knife during a sermon at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in western Sydney.

Footage posted online showed the attacker criticising Emmanuel’s comments about Islam while pinned to the …