Amrick Roy, 26, the man charged with the bashing of Penelope Katsavos, 78, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
He is also accused of having assaulted another person at Prahran last Saturday, following his assault of the elderly Greek Australian woman.
Police allege Mr Roy – who has never been in custody before – assaulted Ms Katsavos, inflicting serious injuries before stealing her shopping trolley about 6.15am.
She was left bashed and bleeding at St Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in South Yarra.
READ MORE: Police release footage associated to alleged attack on parishioner Penelope Katsavos
Found by a council worker, she was rushed to hospital suffering bleeding on the brain, a fractured pelvis and broken wrist.
Mr Roy from Box Hill wore a face mask as he appeared before court on Friday via a video link.
His lawyer ellen Murphy said he needed to see a nurse for a laceration to his head, and he had a bruise under his left eye.
READ MORE: Man arrested for assaulting Kyria Poppy at the church steps of her Melbourne parish
Mr Roy faces charges of intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, robbery and theft.
Magistrate Philip Goldberg remanded him and he will next face court on 16 June.
Ms Katsavos was released from hospital on Thursday.
