In St. Augustine, Fla., Rev. Marino is reflecting on a violent encounter that nearly cost him his life. Now, a year later, he is opening up about the journey of faith, healing, and forgiveness that followed the harrowing experience.

The incident occurred on October 23, 2024, as Marino was having breakfast with a friend on San Marco Avenue. Suddenly, a stranger approached them, muttering about having “a lot of problems,” and then, without warning, stabbed Marino in the chest.

“The knife penetrated deeply,” Marino recounted. “I looked down and said, ‘Hey, you just stabbed me.’ Her expression changed entirely at that moment,” he said, as he reflected on the surreal nature of the attack.

“It went in really far,” Marino recalled. “I kind of looked down and said, ‘Hey, you just stabbed me.’ Then her face completely changed.”

The knife pierced his lung and pulmonary artery. As he struggled to stay conscious, a Customs and Border Protection trainer just happened to be driving by, carrying a combat chest seal.

“He had that thing on me in under a minute,” Marino said. “That’s probably why I’m alive today.”

Rushed to the hospital, doctors told him his survival chances were one percent.

A trauma surgeon later told him, “Thirty-five years in combat surgery, I’ve never saved anybody with your injury.”

Marino said he believes his recovery was nothing short of divine.

“I’m not afraid of anything anymore,” he said. “I’m clearly here because the Lord wants me here.”

In the months since, Marino has chosen forgiveness over anger.

“The first one to forgive is the first one who’s free,” he said.

The accused attacker, Arieana Gibbs, was arrested just hours after the stabbing. She was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial but was found competent in May. Her next pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 3.

Marino continues to preach at Trinity Parish and says he’s grateful for the community that stood by him through prayer, support and faith.