Penitent thief

The Penitent Thief, also known as

the Good Thief or the Thief on the
Cross, is one of two unnamed
persons mentioned in a version of
the Crucifixion of Jesus in the New
Testament. The Gospel of Luke
describes one asking Jesus to
"remember him" when Jesus will
have "come into" his kingdom. The
other, as the impenitent thief,
challenges Jesus to save himself to
prove that he is the Messiah.

"Saint Dismas"
(Catholic tradition) [1]

Statue of St. Dismas in Březnice,

Czech Republic, dated 1750.

Penitent Thief •Good Thief •

Thief on the Cross

Died c. 30-33 AD
Golgotha Hill
outside
Jerusalem

Venerated in Eastern
Orthodox Church
Catholic Church

Feast March 25
(Roman Catholic)
Good Friday
(Eastern
Orthodox)

Attributes Wearing a
loincloth and
either holding his
cross or being
crucified;
sometimes
depicted in
Paradise.

Patronage Prisoners
(especially
condemned)
Funeral directors
Repentant
thieves
Merizo, Guam
San Dimas,
Mexico

He is officially venerated in the

Catholic Church. The Roman
Martyrology places his
commemoration on March 25,
together with the Feast of the
Annunciation, because of the
ancient Christian tradition[2] that
Christ (and the penitent thief) were
crucified and died exactly on the
anniversary of Christ's Incarnation.

He is given the name Dismas in the

Gospel of Nicodemus and is
traditionally known in Catholicism
as "Saint Dismas" [1] (sometimes
Dysmas; in Spanish and
Portuguese, Dimas). Other
traditions have bestowed other
names:

In Coptic Orthodox tradition and

the Narrative of Joseph of
Arimathea, he is named
Demas.[3][4]

In the Codex Colbertinus, he is

named Zoatham.[citation needed]

In Russian Orthodox tradition, he

is named Rakh.[5]

Gospel of Luke

Christian
traditions

In popular
culture

See also

References

External links

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