Michael Brooks
Mar Mari Emmanuel, also known as Robert Shlimon, is an Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian prelate. He was ordained a bishop in the Ancient Church of the East in 2011 but was excommunicated in 2014. He established an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition of Christianity in 2015. Emmanuel has gained popularity through social media, particularly on TikTok and YouTube, where he live-streams his sermons and expresses his staunch opposition to liberal Christianity. While Emmanuel is often referred to as TikTok Bishop or Orthodox, he does not belong to any specific church body or hierarchy. He has been accused of holding heretical beliefs and criticised for his anti-LGBTQ+, anti-vaccine, and anti-Islam sentiments.
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What You'll Learn
- Mar Mari Emmanuel's excommunication from the Ancient Church of the East
- Emmanuel's establishment of an independent church in the Syriac tradition
- Emmanuel's social media presence and influence
- Emmanuel's criticism of non-Christian religions, the LGBTQ+ community, and COVID-19 policies
- The 2024 stabbing of Emmanuel during a livestreamed sermon
Mar Mari Emmanuel's excommunication from the Ancient Church of the East
Mar Mari Emmanuel, born Robert Shlimon, is an Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian prelate. In 2011, he was ordained a bishop in the Ancient Church of the East, an Assyrian branch of the Nestorian Church. However, in 2014, he was excommunicated from the Ancient Church of the East.
In July 2013, while on a visit to Australia, Mar Addai II bestowed a patriarchal confirmation upon Emmanuel. However, Mar Addai II also ordered Emmanuel to make changes to a range of aspects, 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 His suspension was briefly withdrawn in December 2014 when Emmanuel declared his acceptance of the patriarchal decrees, but it was renewed when he expressed his disagreement.
The excommunication was allegedly due to ""theological differences". However, these were not theological differences per se, but disagreements over church practical matters and the bishop's response to them. There were three allegations against Mar Mari Emmanuel, claiming that he breached the canon laws of the church. Firstly, it was claimed that Mar Mari was not allowed to live with his mother and had to live on the church premises. In response, Mar Mari cited the Council of Nicea, which stated that bishops, presbyters, or deacons could live with housekeepers, mothers, sisters, aunts, or people above suspicion. Secondly, Mar Mari was accused of not attending daily morning and evening prayers. Finally, it was alleged that Mar Mari was not allowed to run a charity, which some believe was due to the church hierarchy's jealousy of his popularity.
In January 2015, Emmanuel established himself as the bishop of an independent church in the East Syriac tradition, Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, New South Wales. Emmanuel has gained popularity through social media, including YouTube and TikTok, where he has garnered a combined following of 258,000 users, earning him the nickname "TikTok Bishop". His sermons on social media have included homilies on the Holy Bible and fervent criticisms of LGBT+ ideals, COVID vaccinations, and U.S. President Joe Biden. He is also known for preaching Anti-LGBT sermons and describing homosexuality as a "crime in the eyes of God".
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Emmanuel's establishment of an independent church in the Syriac tradition
Mar Mari Emmanuel, born Robert Shlimon on 19 July 1970, is an Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian prelate. He is the bishop of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, New South Wales. In 2011, Emmanuel was ordained a bishop in the Ancient Church of the East, but was excommunicated in 2014. In 2015, he established an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition of Christianity.
Emmanuel was born into a devout Assyrian-Christian family belonging to the Ancient Church of the East. He grew up in Baghdad, but his family left Iraq in 1985 and settled in Sydney, Australia. 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. He adopted the episcopal name of Mari Emmanuel (after Saint Mari) at the time of becoming a bishop.
In July 2013, while on a visit to Australia, Mar Addai II bestowed the patriarchal confirmation upon Emmanuel. However, Emmanuel was suspended from 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 he declared his acceptance of the patriarchal decrees, but it was renewed when he expressed his disagreement with them.
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 sermons are livestreamed on the Facebook and YouTube channels of Christ the Good Shepherd Church. 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 criticized homosexuality, COVID-19 policies, and non-Christian religions.
The Syriac Orthodox Church has a long and complex history, with roots dating back to the Sasanian Empire in 410. It has experienced divisions and reunions over the centuries, with various groups establishing their independence, such as the East Syriac Church of the East, the Assyrian Pentecostal Church, and the Aramean Free Church. The West Syriac Rite, or Antiochian Syriac Rite, is the liturgical tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church and its component churches, including the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Syriac Catholic Church, and the Indian Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
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Emmanuel's social media presence and influence
Mar Mari Emmanuel, the Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian prelate, has gained a substantial following on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Emmanuel, also known as the "TikTok Bishop," has amassed a combined following of 258,000 users on TikTok and YouTube alone. His sermons, which are streamed live on the Facebook and YouTube channels of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, have attracted a large audience, with his YouTube channel garnering over nine million views.
Emmanuel's social media presence has been marked by his controversial views and influence on his followers. He has been a vocal critic of homosexuality, COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns, and liberal Christianity. Emmanuel has also expressed disapproval of US President Joe Biden's support for gay rights and has made anti-Zionist statements. Additionally, he has been accused of attacking Islam and spreading conspiracy theories about the World Economic Forum and COVID-19. His sermons have labelled the World Health Organization a "fraud" and described lockdowns as "slavery."
Emmanuel's influence is evident in the online fan pages created by his supporters, with thousands expressing their admiration and support. His followers have also reproduced and shared his content across various social media platforms, amplifying his reach and impact. One notable example of his influence is the reaction to the terrorist attack on Emmanuel and others during a livestreamed sermon in April 2024. Despite the attack, Emmanuel forgave his attacker and urged his followers to refrain from seeking revenge, demonstrating his ability to shape the responses of his supporters.
Emmanuel's social media influence extends beyond his religious followers. His views have gained traction among right-wing Christians from different denominations, even after his defrocking from the Ancient Assyrian Church of the East. Additionally, his criticism of Australian COVID-19 policies and support for former US President Donald Trump have attracted attention from conservative media outlets, further expanding his influence beyond solely religious circles.
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Emmanuel's criticism of non-Christian religions, the LGBTQ+ community, and COVID-19 policies
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, born Robert Shlimon in 1970 in Habbaniya, Iraq, is an Iraqi-born Assyrian Australian prelate. He is the bishop of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, New South Wales. In 2011, Emmanuel was ordained a bishop in the Ancient Church of the East, but was excommunicated in 2014. In 2015, he established an independent church in the Eastern Syriac tradition of Christianity.
Bishop Emmanuel has gained popularity through social media, particularly on TikTok and YouTube, with a combined following of 258,000 users, earning him the nickname "TikTok Bishop". His sermons on social media have included criticisms of non-Christian religions, the LGBTQ+ community, and COVID-19 policies.
Criticism of Non-Christian Religions
Bishop Emmanuel has been known to criticise non-Christian religions such as Judaism and Islam. In one of his sermons, he stated that "Islam flourished and expanded with the sword". He has also been accused by some Christians of being a follower of Nestorianism, a doctrine condemned as heresy at the Council of Ephesus, although he denies this charge. In April 2024, Bishop Emmanuel was attacked by a 16-year-old during a sermon at his church. The attacker, who was motivated by religious extremism, made reference to insults towards his prophet and religion.
Criticism of the LGBTQ+ Community
Bishop Emmanuel has preached anti-LGBTQ+ sermons, describing homosexuality as a "crime in the eyes of God". He has also expressed disapproval of US President Joe Biden's support for gay rights.
Criticism of COVID-19 Policies
Bishop Emmanuel has criticised COVID-19 vaccinations and lockdowns, calling them "mass slavery" and referring to the pandemic as a "plandemic". He has also criticised the Australian COVID-19 policy. In one of his sermons during the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant outbreaks and the lockdown in Sydney, he called on the Australian Prime Minister and NSW Premier to do more to aid those facing financial and emotional adversity.
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The 2024 stabbing of Emmanuel during a livestreamed sermon
On 15 April 2024, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a livestreamed sermon at the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney, New South Wales. The assailant, a 16-year-old boy, entered the church wearing a black jumper, shouted "Allahu Akbar", and attacked several people with a knife, starting with Bishop Emmanuel. The weapon used was allegedly a flick knife, which is banned in Australia.
Bishop Emmanuel, who was presiding over the service, was livestreaming to the internet when the attack occurred. The assailant approached the pulpit and stabbed the bishop repeatedly in the head and upper body. Three people, including Bishop Emmanuel, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack. Bishop Emmanuel, 53, was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition, and the hospital was placed under a partial lockdown.
The attacker was allegedly acting in response to perceived insults made by Bishop Emmanuel against the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In a video released by one of the churchgoers, the teenager can be heard saying in Arabic, "If he didn't insult my prophet, I wouldn't have come here". Members of the congregation rushed forward to subdue the attacker and held him until the police arrived.
The attack was condemned by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the New South Wales Police Force, who described it as a terrorist act and religious-motivated Islamist. A counter-terrorism task force was set up to investigate the incident, and the 16-year-old suspect was charged and denied bail.
Despite the attack, Bishop Emmanuel stated that he had forgiven his assailant and called for his followers to remain calm and law-abiding amid the riots that followed. He also requested prayers for the victims of the attack, as well as the alleged perpetrator. Bishop Emmanuel's bravery and forgiveness were praised by Councillor Steve Christou of the Cumberland City Council.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Mar Mari Emmanuel is not Catholic. He is a bishop in the Assyrian Church of the East, which is one of the oldest Christian denominations with unique theological perspectives and historical developments that set it apart from Catholicism.
No, Mar Mari Emmanuel is not Orthodox either. While the Assyrian Church of the East is often referred to as one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, it has distinct doctrines and customs that differentiate it from Eastern Orthodoxy.
Mar Mari Emmanuel is a bishop within the Assyrian Church of the East, which has a unique position within the broader spectrum of Christianity. His religious identity is deeply intertwined with his ethnic background as an Assyrian, and he shares a common ancestry, language, and cultural heritage with his fellow Assyrians.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel is often confused for being Orthodox due to his appearances in a Syriac head covering, similar to monastic Coptic Orthodox clergy. He also uses a photo of the late Coptic Orthodox Pope Cyril VI and has shared Coptic Orthodox exorcism videos. Additionally, he loosely claims Orthodoxy and expresses love for both Orthodox and Catholic Churches, further contributing to the confusion.
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