Mari Emmanuel

Early life Emmanuel was born as Robert Shlimon on 19 July 1970

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 His suspension was briefly withdrawn in December 2014, when Emmanuel declared his acceptance of the patriarchal decrees, but renewed when he expressed his disagreement a second time. For a period of time, Emmanuel preached at St Zaia's Cathedral in Middleton Grange, New South Wales.

Controversies In 2013, Emmanuel was accused of aggravated indecent assault after an 18-year-old woman alleged he had sexually touched her at his home following a late-night call for help. In June 2014, Magistrate Elaine Truscott found that Emmanuel, then serving as bishop at St Zaia's Cathedral in Sydney, had embraced and caressed the woman. She described his behavior as 'distinctly fallen from grace', but dismissed the charge on the basis that prosecutors had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was aware of her lack of consent. Emmanuel denied the allegations, saying he had never touched the woman sexually, and pleaded not guilty. The judgment rejected his account as 'untrue, in most respects', and prohibited him from contacting the woman for five years. That same year, he was suspended from the Ancient Church of the East and subsequently founded Christ The Good Shepherd Church.

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. His online presence combined with his views have made him a target for criticism, hate speech, and internet trolling.

Views

Religious views Emmanuel's sermons on social media have included homilies on the Holy Bible and preaching on Christian values such as honesty, moderation and humility. He is a staunch critic of liberal Christianity. In a podcast titled Satan Has Engulfed the Churches, Emmanuel criticized Pope Francis, accusing him of "going woke". Some Christians have accused Emmanuel of adhering to Nestorianism, a doctrine condemned as heresy at the Council of Ephesus; Emmanuel denies the charge.

Emmanuel has frequently criticised the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. In one of his sermons, Emmanuel stated that "Islam flourished and expanded with the sword".

Political views Emmanuel has criticized U.S. President Joe Biden, including for Biden's support for gay rights.

Emmanuel has preached anti-LGBT sermons, describing homosexuality as a "crime in the eyes of God".

COVID-19 pandemic and international organisations On 19 July 2021, amid the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant outbreaks and the lockdown in Sydney, Emmanuel delivered an online sermon criticizing COVID-19 vaccinations and lockdowns, calling them "mass slavery".

In another sermon, Emmanuel described the United Nations as a "harlot" and claimed that it was built on lies originating from Satan, contrasting it with what he described as the truth and honesty of Christ. He has also described the World Health Organization as a "fraud". 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.

According to the NSW police commissioner Karen Webb, Emmanuel underwent surgery and was 'lucky to be alive' In a video released by a churchgoer, the attacker was also heard saying 'if he [the bishop] didn't insult my prophet [ Muhammad] and religion...I wouldn't have come here'. Police described the attack as 'religiously motivated Islamist' According to Emmanuel, about one month before the stabbing, threats were posted on TikTok, stating Emmanuel 'has two weeks to live'.

Emmanuel's response In an online audio sermon at Liverpool Hospital on 18 April 2024, Emmanuel again forgave the attacker—and demanded his followers not seek revenge. 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.'''