Righteous
Righteous The Penitent (Good) Thief — Rah, Dismas
I век
Also known as: Дисмас, Рах
The Penitent Thief — called Rah in medieval Byzantine and Old Russian tradition, Dismas in the Western tradition — one of two thieves crucified on either side of Christ at Golgotha; coming to believe in Christ even while on the cross, he addressed Him with the words "remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom" and became the first person to receive the promise of salvation: "Today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). He has not been formally canonized by the Orthodox Church but is deeply venerated in liturgical tradition as a model of repentance.
According to the Gospel of Luke (23:39-43), during Christ's crucifixion at Golgotha, two thieves were executed alongside Him, one on each side. One of them reviled Christ, demanding that He prove His divinity by saving all three from execution. The other, named in church tradition Rah (in the Western tradition, Dismas), rebuked his companion, acknowledging that both thieves were justly condemned for their crimes, whereas Christ had done nothing wrong. Turning to the Savior with the words, "Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom," the Penitent Thief became the first person to hear from Christ the promise of salvation: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Church tradition sees in this episode the highest example of repentance attained in the final moments of earthly life. Despite deep liturgical veneration — the image of the Penitent Thief is constantly present in the hymns of Holy Week, and the troparion "The Wise Thief" is sung at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts — no formal glorification in the rank of saints has been performed by the Orthodox Church, and there is no unified opinion among theologians regarding his official canonization.