The priest who was stabbed Friday, March 22, at Montreal’s famed Saint Joseph’s Oratory has been released from hospital with minor injuries and said he’s feeling “fine.”

Speaking with a CTV Montreal reporter, Father Claude Grou said he did not know the man who walked to the front of the church and attacked him during morning Mass.

Regardless, the incident won’t stop him from returning to the pulpit, Grou said.

“I’m not afraid to go back to work,” he told CTV Montreal. “The oratory will remain a place where people can be welcomed in a place of prayer and a place of calm and a place of peace, even if there are some moments like that.”

Montreal police say a 26-year-old suspect has been arrested. He was taken to the station for questioning.

Police said the man is known to police, CTV Montreal’s Rob Lurie reported.

Investigators said a call came in about a stabbing at the church at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Friday morning when the priest was in the process of celebrating mass before approximately 60 worshippers.

The mass was being livestreamed by the Catholic television network Sel+Lumiere TV, which airs the religious ceremony daily, when the stabbing occurred. The footage was quickly removed from the website following the attack.

In the video, a man wearing a dark winter coat and a light-coloured baseball cap pulled out a large knife and walked in front of the altar. The footage shows the suspect run up the steps towards the priest.

Grou attempted to run away as the attacker knocked over a candle. The video shows the man quickly catch up to the priest and push him to the ground before he appears to stab him.

Following the stabbing, the suspect dropped the knife and stood up as members of the congregation ran towards him. Three men restrained the attacker while other people went to help Grou who appeared to stand up on his own.

Lurie reported that the assailant slashed Grou in his stomach and the knife broke during the attack.

Speaking Friday night, Grou thanked everyone who expressed concern for his health. He said he plans to return to work, after a short rest.

“There are so many people who helped me to pass through this moment, and now, my health is fine,” he said.