DISMAS is one of the two thieves that were crucified at the same time than Jesus. The name of DISMAS for this person, unnamed in the canonical Gospel itself, appears first in the12th century in the Gospel of Nicodemus. The name of the other thief is Gestas. According to a legend, when DISMAS was a teenager he sheltered and helped the Holy Family to escape to Egypt. Mary told him that he was going to meet them in another and more tragical circumst...
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DISMAS is one of the two thieves that were crucified at the same time than Jesus. The name of DISMAS for this person, unnamed in the canonical Gospel itself, appears first in the12th century in the Gospel of Nicodemus. The name of the other thief is Gestas. According to a legend, when DISMAS was a teenager he sheltered and helped the Holy Family to escape to Egypt. Mary told him that he was going to meet them in another and more tragical circumstances and that he and his son Jesus were going to be crucified together in Jerusalem some years later. But DISMAS did not pay attention to this prophecy.
Although DISMAS was by birth a Gentile and the eldest son of a rich Jewish merchant and could have a pleasant and confortable life, he was corrupted by his cousin Gestas and became an outlaw. He left his town and his home when he was 15 years old. After some years of crimes and robbery, DISMAS and Gestas were captured. We don't know about the circumstances of his arrest, but DISMAS was then about 45 years old. The accusation which had been proved against them was that of having assassinated a Jewish woman who, with her children, was travelling from Jerusalem to Joppa. On being arrested, he confessed everything. They were imprisoned for a long time before being brought to trial. Finally Pilate gave order that they should be taken to Jerusalem to be judged. Pilate sentenced both to death by crucifixion. His mother Eve, still alive, tried to get the mercy of Pilate and implored in vain for a less painful and humiliating punishment. But DISMAS and Gestas were hand and feet cuffed, and thrown in a horrible prison in Jerusalem. We don't know how long was DISMAS left in prison. They were going to be flagellated and crucified, serving as an example to the dangerous thieves in the surroundings. Just before his execution, DISMAS was cruely flagellated. On the road to Calvary, DISMAS could have been witness of the miracle of the Veronica and that could have marvelled him. Just before being fixed to the cross an executioner offered him a drink. "Take it all! This is going to appease your sufferings. It is myrrh and vinegar". He drank the potion with repulsion. He was trembling. DISMAS was crucified like Jesus Christ. Both feet and hands were fixed in the cross with nails. Once fixed upon the cross, DISMAS was lifted so that the people could enjoy with the sight of his torture. The cross, in falling into the hole prepared for it, gave him a terrible shock. The pain was terrible – not so bad at first, but slowly, like a cramp that worsens the pain began to burn his shoulders and arms DISMAS could not resist the excruciating pain of the nails that pierced his wirsts and feet and cried like a child. Each drop of blood that dripped from him made him weaker. The torture of the cross made him sweat. The nerves were contracted in violent spams. To all these turments must be added that of a devastating thrist. Standing by the cross of DISMAS was his old mother Eve who came to witness the crucifixion of his son too. DISMAS looked to the left of him and heared the man in the middle cry out, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they do!" Crucified next to Jesus, DISMAS soon realized the calmness and sweetness of Jesus. DISMAS observed the patience of Jesus and it moved him. DISMAS also turned his attention to Mary. He felt great sorrow for her that she would have to be a witness of his torture. Heroic was the faith and trust of that poor thief in that hour. In spite of his tremendous sufferings, Gestas cried out, 'If thou are the Christ, save yourself and us.' DISMAS was silent, but he was deeply moved at the prayer of Jesus for his enemies. DISMAS said to Gestas, who was still blaspheming Jesus, 'Neither don't you fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done no evil. DISMAS then raised his head, and in a tone of humility and hope said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You shall come into your Kingdom.' And Jesus made answer, 'Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shall be with me in Paradise.'“Lord, remember me,” called this poor man, and the Lord heard him and saved him right there. DISMAS smiled and suffered the rest of his punishment with humility and hope. DISMAS asked, not to be released from his sufferings, but to be admitted into eternal life. Accepting Christ as the Messiah did not excuse DISMAS from the physical punishment he deserved due his sins (a horrible death by crucifixion); it only saved him from the spiritual punishment he deserved (a spiritual death of the soul in eternal damnation). DISMAS, in the midst of all his pain and humiliation, testified his faith in Christ. Just before the executioners were going to break the legs of the executed, DISMAS said to his mother: "Mother, we are going to die soon and also stop suffering. Don't cry. This Man is The Messiah and has promised me that I'm going to be with Him in Paradise. Isn't it nice? Please, pray also for Gestas and forgive him." "Today you will be with me," Dimas perhaps recalled. "Yes, he would think, that is where I'm going to go, but it doesn't look like Paradise". Perhaps DISMAS continued hoping for some miraculous pardon and rescue. Few moments later, two men made their appearance, bringing with them ladders, spades, ropes, and large iron clubs for the purpose of breaking the legs of the criminals, in order to hasten their deaths. They moved their ladders to the crosses on which the two thieves were still hanging alive. DISMAS saw no angel from heaven stop the soldier who stood before him, swinging back the club that would shatter his legs and end his life. They took up their iron clubs and broke their legs, both below the knees. Gestas uttered frightful cries, therefore the executioner finished him off by three heavy blows of a cudgel on his chest. Few minutes later, DISMAS gave a deep groan, and expired. Later, when the two men were already dead, Mary was mourning at the foot of her Son's cross and noticed that at the foot of DISMAS' cross was a disheveled old woman crying. The old woman said "He was my son." The two mothers embraced and consoled each other. The nails were then removed and the cords loosened, and the bodies of the two thieves fell to the ground. DISMAS' mother kissed lovingly the face of his son. Afterwards the executioners took the corpses and wrapped them in dirty rags. They dragged them to a deep common grave, which was between Calvary and the walls of the town, and buried them there. DISMAS's mother did not claim the corpse because for a woman of her social position it was an ignominy to have a crucified son. So was the troubled life of DISMAS. He could be a respected and rich merchant, but he chose to be an evildoer. Condemned to death by his transgressions, he shared the cross with Jesus but, illuminated by the Grace of God, he repented of his sins and Jesus promised him the Paradise. He is now a Saint venerated both by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. less
Although DISMAS was by birth a Gentile and the eldest son of a rich Jewish merchant and could have a pleasant and confortable life, he was corrupted by his cousin Gestas and became an outlaw. He left his town and his home when he was 15 years old. After some years of crimes and robbery, DISMAS and Gestas were captured. We don't know about the circumstances of his arrest, but DISMAS was then about 45 years old. The accusation which had been proved against them was that of having assassinated a Jewish woman who, with her children, was travelling from Jerusalem to Joppa. On being arrested, he confessed everything. They were imprisoned for a long time before being brought to trial. Finally Pilate gave order that they should be taken to Jerusalem to be judged. Pilate sentenced both to death by crucifixion. His mother Eve, still alive, tried to get the mercy of Pilate and implored in vain for a less painful and humiliating punishment. But DISMAS and Gestas were hand and feet cuffed, and thrown in a horrible prison in Jerusalem. We don't know how long was DISMAS left in prison. They were going to be flagellated and crucified, serving as an example to the dangerous thieves in the surroundings. Just before his execution, DISMAS was cruely flagellated. On the road to Calvary, DISMAS could have been witness of the miracle of the Veronica and that could have marvelled him. Just before being fixed to the cross an executioner offered him a drink. "Take it all! This is going to appease your sufferings. It is myrrh and vinegar". He drank the potion with repulsion. He was trembling. DISMAS was crucified like Jesus Christ. Both feet and hands were fixed in the cross with nails. Once fixed upon the cross, DISMAS was lifted so that the people could enjoy with the sight of his torture. The cross, in falling into the hole prepared for it, gave him a terrible shock. The pain was terrible – not so bad at first, but slowly, like a cramp that worsens the pain began to burn his shoulders and arms DISMAS could not resist the excruciating pain of the nails that pierced his wirsts and feet and cried like a child. Each drop of blood that dripped from him made him weaker. The torture of the cross made him sweat. The nerves were contracted in violent spams. To all these turments must be added that of a devastating thrist. Standing by the cross of DISMAS was his old mother Eve who came to witness the crucifixion of his son too. DISMAS looked to the left of him and heared the man in the middle cry out, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they do!" Crucified next to Jesus, DISMAS soon realized the calmness and sweetness of Jesus. DISMAS observed the patience of Jesus and it moved him. DISMAS also turned his attention to Mary. He felt great sorrow for her that she would have to be a witness of his torture. Heroic was the faith and trust of that poor thief in that hour. In spite of his tremendous sufferings, Gestas cried out, 'If thou are the Christ, save yourself and us.' DISMAS was silent, but he was deeply moved at the prayer of Jesus for his enemies. DISMAS said to Gestas, who was still blaspheming Jesus, 'Neither don't you fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation. And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done no evil. DISMAS then raised his head, and in a tone of humility and hope said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You shall come into your Kingdom.' And Jesus made answer, 'Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shall be with me in Paradise.'“Lord, remember me,” called this poor man, and the Lord heard him and saved him right there. DISMAS smiled and suffered the rest of his punishment with humility and hope. DISMAS asked, not to be released from his sufferings, but to be admitted into eternal life. Accepting Christ as the Messiah did not excuse DISMAS from the physical punishment he deserved due his sins (a horrible death by crucifixion); it only saved him from the spiritual punishment he deserved (a spiritual death of the soul in eternal damnation). DISMAS, in the midst of all his pain and humiliation, testified his faith in Christ. Just before the executioners were going to break the legs of the executed, DISMAS said to his mother: "Mother, we are going to die soon and also stop suffering. Don't cry. This Man is The Messiah and has promised me that I'm going to be with Him in Paradise. Isn't it nice? Please, pray also for Gestas and forgive him." "Today you will be with me," Dimas perhaps recalled. "Yes, he would think, that is where I'm going to go, but it doesn't look like Paradise". Perhaps DISMAS continued hoping for some miraculous pardon and rescue. Few moments later, two men made their appearance, bringing with them ladders, spades, ropes, and large iron clubs for the purpose of breaking the legs of the criminals, in order to hasten their deaths. They moved their ladders to the crosses on which the two thieves were still hanging alive. DISMAS saw no angel from heaven stop the soldier who stood before him, swinging back the club that would shatter his legs and end his life. They took up their iron clubs and broke their legs, both below the knees. Gestas uttered frightful cries, therefore the executioner finished him off by three heavy blows of a cudgel on his chest. Few minutes later, DISMAS gave a deep groan, and expired. Later, when the two men were already dead, Mary was mourning at the foot of her Son's cross and noticed that at the foot of DISMAS' cross was a disheveled old woman crying. The old woman said "He was my son." The two mothers embraced and consoled each other. The nails were then removed and the cords loosened, and the bodies of the two thieves fell to the ground. DISMAS' mother kissed lovingly the face of his son. Afterwards the executioners took the corpses and wrapped them in dirty rags. They dragged them to a deep common grave, which was between Calvary and the walls of the town, and buried them there. DISMAS's mother did not claim the corpse because for a woman of her social position it was an ignominy to have a crucified son. So was the troubled life of DISMAS. He could be a respected and rich merchant, but he chose to be an evildoer. Condemned to death by his transgressions, he shared the cross with Jesus but, illuminated by the Grace of God, he repented of his sins and Jesus promised him the Paradise. He is now a Saint venerated both by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. less
Date of birth:
- 18 B.C.E.
Date of death:
- 33 C.E. (age 50 years)
Profession:
Also known as:
- the Good Thief, the Repentant Thief, the Penitent Thief, the Thief on the Cross
