This Akathist was recently translated into English by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance and same for his grandfather who is gravely ill. Click here or scroll down for a miraculous healing of St. Porphyrios of Gaza by the Thief on the Cross.
Icon of St. Dismas the Good Thief. Buy his icon here.
Saint Dismas – feast days: 25 March, October 12 and the Great Friday
To be prayed continually for someone or for yourself in order to obtain repentance and conversion to Christ before you or that person dies. Also to be prayed for souls who departed this world without being part of Christ’s True Church or people who died without repentance in sins so that they may eventually be spared from Hell.
Kontakion 1
God the Father was pleased to have you nailed to the cross on the right hand of the Savior, Who brought down enmity, strengthened peace, and opened the treasury of countless blessings; and coming to a true knowledge of sin, humility, and mercy, Holy Dismas, you were reconciled with Him and from being a stranger to His Kingdom you became a friend of eternal joys. For this reason, as one sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, hear these words of prayer and intercede for us who honor you: Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Ikos 1
Where there is the Cross, there is sacrifice, and where there is sacrifice, there is the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with the Lord, celebration, and joy. And you, Holy Dismas, ascended the cross in pain and iniquity, but although your body descended afterwards, your soul ascended first into Heaven, where the Cherubim sang to you thus:
Rejoice, you who were crucified for sins and saved because of faith;
Rejoice, good and wise thief;
Rejoice, for the sword of the Cherubim did not touch you in Heaven;
Rejoice, for at the command of the Lord, it bowed down before you;
Rejoice, for the Kingdom of God was your salvation;
Rejoice, for death lost its sting through your repentance;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 2
You were a man of iniquity, Holy Dismas, living your whole life alongside thieves and robbers, despising honest work and family, being a loner of evil deeds, living at a time when our Lord Jesus Christ was preaching the Word of the Father in Jerusalem: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
But the Heavenly Father ordained that you should be judged in the same days as His Son Jesus Christ, and being condemned to death by crucifixion, you were nailed to a cross on the right hand of the Savior, and we pray with tears:
Rejoice, for you have received the good part of life;
Rejoice, for thus the prophecy of the Holy Prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled;
Rejoice, for he said that “Jesus was counted among the lawless”;
Rejoice, for you bring the fulfillment of the times;
Rejoice, for you have known the True Way;
Rejoice, for your erroneous journey through the world has come to an end;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 3
Christ sacrificed Himself for us on the high Cross, on the new altar, just as the sacrifice is new and glorious, and we no longer dwell outside the King’s courts because we have found the Door; we no longer fear the devil because we have found the Source of Victory; we no longer fear the wolf because we have the Good Shepherd, and we are no longer alone because we have found the Bridegroom: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
When Jesus Christ came to earth, He planted in the arid fields of our hearts the seed of divine grace that bears fruit even in the driest depths, boldly digging into the rock of our hardened hearts and making room for the King of Life, the King who you adored on the cross, O Holy Dismas:
Rejoice, for through the cross you have known the Power of the Lord;
Rejoice, for on the cross He has shown His Lordship;
Rejoice, for your evil mind has been changed by the One who is full of goodness;
Rejoice, for the sword of the Holy Spirit has penetrated your conscience;
Rejoice, for He has broken sin from you and given birth to repentance;
Rejoice, for the enemy devil has been put to shame, having lost his servant;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, for giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 4
On the high Cross, the Lamb was slain, not under covering, so that He might cleanse the air, being under the open sky, and the earth was cleansed too, for His Blood fell upon it, becoming a common Sacrifice for all nations, so that every place on earth might become a place of prayer and worship: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
The greater the sacrifice, the greater the holiness, for behold! From lawlessness the Lord saved you, Holy Dismas, and from being crucified and nailed with spikes, He had mercy on you, He took you out of the sorrow of suffering and made you know the nature of the Cross, not as wood of condemnation but as the Power of Him, the Crucified One, Who on the Cross performed the miracle that we all praise:
Rejoice, for Heaven has been honored with such a Master;
Rejoice, for He has brought you with Him, the thief on the cross;
Rejoice, for He has shown you worthy of the delight of eternity;
Rejoice, for He heals incurable wounds;
Rejoice, for you have made yourself worthy of the feast in heaven;
Rejoice, for you teach us to bow our hearts to Him with humility;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 5
Jesus did not raise any dead man on the Cross, nor did He rebuke the sea and the winds, nor did He cast out His loved ones, but being crucified, nailed, reviled, and mocked, He was able to change your mind, Holy Dismas, who was shrouded in sins and thieving thoughts, so that you might see His Power on both sides: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
The Savior shook all creation, splitting the rocks and drawing your soul, which was more insensitive than stone, to Him and elevating you, Saint, saying, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise,” and we rejoice and sing:
Rejoice, for you are our teacher, Saint;
Rejoice, for you teach us to cry out loudly;
Rejoice, for at the last moment, our cry is heard;
Rejoice, for you make the truth shine forth;
Rejoice, for you help us to grow despite all obstacles;
Rejoice, ladder to the Kingdom of heavenly blessings;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 6
The whole world is divided between one thief and the other thief, both standing on the cross, both living a robber life, both doing evil, sinning, and indulging in passions, but only one of them has you, Holy Dismas, for you place him on the right side of the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and, breaking the stone of his spiritual conscience, you show him repentance in his last hour so that he may inherit Heaven: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
All of humanity gathered at the foot of the Cross, for one criminal reviled, the other worshipped, one blasphemed, the other blessed and rebuked the lost one: “Do you not fear God?… for we receive what we deserve according to our deeds.” and we, appropriating for ourselves your boldness, Holy Dismas, honor you thus:
Rejoice, for you took heed of yourself;
Rejoice, for you left your own, even though you were dying in agony;
Rejoice, for you cared for the Savior;
Rejoice, for you knew that He suffered without sin;
Rejoice, for you no longer felt your own pain, but His;
Rejoice, for your mind was enlightened;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, for giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 7
Your salvation, Holy Dismas, was a manifestation of God’s glory revealed in the very crucifixion of the Lord, for His sacrifice meant first of all your salvation and then the deliverance of the whole world, for on the cross you knew Him, and the injustice done to Him moved your heart to redemption, being the first man to enter Paradise: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
You cried out from the cross for heaven and earth to hear: “This man has done no wrong!”, testifying that Jesus Christ was the sinless Man Who received the nails of the Cross as seals of forgiveness for our sins, and fearing God, you wept under the condemnation of human judgment, but you were then comforted by the mercy of God’s judgment, thus ascending to the heights:
Rejoice, for you did not judge and were not judged;
Rejoice, for from the Cross you leaped into Heaven;
Rejoice, for your mercy for the Lord cleansed you of all iniquity;
Rejoice, for you wept for Him and not for yourself;
Rejoice, for you found justice in your condemnation;
Rejoice, for the injustice of His death was your greatest pain;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 8
You heard Jesus Christ speaking from the Cross all His words of farewell to those who crucified Him, Holy Dismas, asking the Father for forgiveness because the Romans did not know what they were doing, with Saint Longinus the Centurion as a witness, who also watched with sorrow as Life was put to death, but who was later deemed worthy to be the first witness of the Lord’s Resurrection: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
On that day of the terrible Cross, you were among the three who brought comfort to the Lord on the Way of the Cross, Holy Dismas, for Saint Simon of Cyrene carried His cross for a while, Saint Veronica wiped His face of blood and sweat, and you, Holy Dismas, comforted the One who comforts all souls, saying words of comfort and justification of His innocence, and we praise you:
Rejoice, because for this the Lord has shown you mercy;
Rejoice, for your love has opened Heaven;
Rejoice, for your care for Him has lifted you above iniquity;
Rejoice, for you have gladdened the King of Joy;
Rejoice, for you are our way to Heaven;
Rejoice, for you open the doors of the soul to confession;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 9
No one taught you repentance, Holy Dismas, and no one showed you what sin means, but just as a sheep knows its Shepherd and recognizes His Voice calling it from wherever it may be, so you awoke as if from a deep sleep and, hanging on the cross with your body, you found your soul in the flock of the Lord God: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Our Shepherd is Good, Loving, and Forgiving, and He constantly seeks a shred of repentance in us so that He may have the opportunity to join us with those already saved, and you, Holy Dismas, are a skilled teacher in the mystery of confession, for you show us what and how to confess, so that, freed from the weight of our hearts, we may call you thus:
Rejoice, for on the cross you stripped yourself of sins;
Rejoice, for you saw yourself void of any good deed;
Rejoice, for you confessed as you were;
Rejoice, for you revealed yourself in your whole being;
Rejoice, for no one forced you, nor urged you;
Rejoice, for sin has lost its power;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, for giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 10
Through your confession, you opened Heaven, Holy Dismas, and with the boldness of your confession, you directly asked for the Kingdom, for although the nails and the cross are visible, the Cross itself is the sign of the Kingdom, and that is why Jesus Christ is called “King” because we see Him crucified as a Master who gives His life for His subjects, descended into hell from where He raised souls to Heaven and then appeared Risen on the third day: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
The cross is the reflection of the Kingdom of God, for the Savior did not leave it on earth but took it and raised it up to Heaven, for with it He will come at His second and glorious Coming, so that those who crucified Him may know their sin. Do not leave us prey to deception, Holy Dismas, that we may know the times and bear fruits of humility and meekness, lest the Savior say to us, “I do not know you,” but that we may also be chosen among those who will stand at the right hand of the Lord:
Rejoice, and help us to grow in prayer;
Rejoice, putting the voice of the Seraphim in us;
Rejoice, for you bring us the joy of glorifying God;
Rejoice, for you show us what it means to love our enemies;
Rejoice, for you deliver us from the agony of suffering;
Rejoice, for you stop pain, bringing heavenly comfort;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 11
From robbery and wickedness you passed in an instant to humility, Holy Dismas, and praying to the One on your right, “Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom,” the heavens shook, the angels sang, the earth shook, for the first of the wicked became the first of those who entered the realm of Heaven: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
And the Lord, accepting the repentance of the one who, although he had been foolish all his life, became wise in an instant, said to him: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise!” And Heaven opened, Light flashed, Love conquered, and we, shaken by all this, pray:
Rejoice, you who proclaim to us the joy of salvation;
Rejoice, you who run after the lost sheep;
Rejoice, you who bring stray souls into the fold;
Rejoice, you who awaken in us mercy and righteous judgment;
Rejoice, for on the cross the dominion of the enemy was destroyed;
Rejoice, you who conquer the oppression of the devil even for us too;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 12
Through food Adam was cast out of Paradise, but through the wood of the cross you were saved, Holy Dismas, for Adam tasted and rejected the commandment of the One who created him, but you, crucified together with the Lord, confessed Him who was hidden: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
He who willingly ascended the Cross and destroyed the power of death, erasing the record that was against us, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, erased the tablet of your sins and, destroying the enemy’s plot, opened Heaven to you, and we pray to you thus:
Rejoice, you who, though tormented, were able to show compassion;
Rejoice, you who, though living in sin, knew how to repent;
Rejoice, protector of those who seek the Lord’s forgiveness;
Rejoice, you who guide the lost to Confession;
Rejoice, for you give us the remembrance of our transgressions;
Rejoice, for you break the past from us, for the eternal joys of Heaven;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 13
You who saw the Lord Jesus Christ preaching the mystery of love, obedience, and patience on the Way of the Cross, Who then, being crucified on the Cross, changed your heart into a burning fire for God, Holy Dismas, look with mercy upon us sinners and sow repentance in us, that we may be received at the Right Hand of the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven, where you, O Saint, were the first among men to enter: Alleluia! (This Kontakion is said 3 times).
Then the First Ikos (“Where there is the Cross…”) and the First Kontakion (“God the Father was pleased…”) are said again once more.
Ikos 1
Where there is the Cross, there is sacrifice, and where there is sacrifice, there is the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with the Lord, celebration, and joy. And you, Holy Dismas, ascended the cross in pain and iniquity, but although your body descended afterwards, your soul ascended first into Heaven, where the Cherubim sang to you thus:
Rejoice, you who were crucified for sins and saved because of faith;
Rejoice, good and wise thief;
Rejoice, for the sword of the Cherubim did not touch you in Heaven;
Rejoice, for at the command of the Lord, it bowed down before you;
Rejoice, for the Kingdom of God was your salvation;
Rejoice, for death lost its sting through your repentance;
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Kontakion 1
God the Father was pleased to have you nailed to the cross on the right hand of the Savior, Who brought down enmity, strengthened peace, and opened the treasury of countless blessings; and coming to a true knowledge of sin, humility, and mercy, Holy Dismas, you were reconciled with Him and from being a stranger to His Kingdom you became a friend of eternal joys. For this reason, as one sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, hear these words of prayer and intercede for us who honor you:
Rejoice, Holy Dismas, giving us the gift of repentance and faith in God!
Ending prayer to Saint Dismas the Good Thief on the Cross: Saint Dismas, you were crucified next to the Lord, you saw Him telling the women not to weep for Him, but for themselves, you heard Him asking His Father to forgive His tormentors because they did not know what they were doing, and from His lips you read the entire Gospel. Standing at His right hand on the cross, you understood the whole mystery of salvation, and His blessed Face penetrated you beyond all your transgressions, for He looked deeply into your being with sadness and love, gentleness and determination, and with infinite compassion for your lost soul.
And then, O Saint, dawn broke in your heart, for the Sun had risen from the Cross and His rays were so powerful that no shadow had power over you, and from a thief you became a disciple of the Master of Light, comforting Him who comforts all living things, and He, for your kindness, promised you: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise!”
We also pray to you, Saint Dismas, the thief who was crucified and believed in Christ crucified, to give us your faith from the cross, for you believed in eternal life, knowing at once that the soul is indebted to climb the ladder to Heaven. We are so burdened with sins that we cannot look up, but we ask you to intercede with God to forgive us. Please grant us repentance and your love for Christ, open the way for us to Holy Confession, and once we arrive there, clear our minds and hearts so that we may confess purely, making a good beginning.
Help us to be reconciled with God, you who were like the prodigal son, ask Him to accept our tears, to give us the awareness of sin, to set us right, so that we may bear the fruits of good deeds, and to enable us to call upon Him with clean lips and with the hope of salvation: “Remember us, Lord, when you come with your Kingdom!” so that we too may enter into Heaven full of joy, now and forever. Amen.
Source of the original text: https://acoperamantulmaiciidomnului.wordpress.com/2023/12/ 26/acatistul-sfantului-dismas-talharul-bun-de-pe-cruce-sau- talharul-intelept-canonizat-de-insusi-iisus-hristos-25-martie-si- 2-octombrie/
The Miraculous Healing of St. Porphyrios of Gaza by the Thief on the Cross
While living in asceticism in the Jordanian wilderness, Saint Porphyrios fell under a serious malady of paralysis. Unable to walk, he would have to crawl to the divine services. For healing he decided to go to the holy places of Jerusalem. His disciple and biographer Mark then describes what he saw when he met Saint Porphyrios in Jerusalem:
And straightway when he beheld me the thrice blessed man embraced me with joy and tears (for joy also can cause tears to flow); but I knew him not; for his body was very strong and his countenance ruddy. And I turned my eyes about looking often upon him; but he, seeing it, smiled pleasantly and said:
“Marvel not, brother Mark, seeing me whole and strong, but learn the cause of my being healed and then marvel exceedingly at the unspeakable lovingkindness of Christ, how the things whereof men have despaired are by Him made straight.”
And I besought him to tell me the cause of his being healed and how he had cast out such a disease. And he answered me:
“About forty days ago when I was keeping the vigil of the holy day of the Lord, an unspeakable pain of the liver got hold upon me, and being unable to endure the anguish I went and lay down near the sacred Skull, and by reason of the great pain I fell as it were into a trance. And I see the Savior nailed upon the Cross and one of the thieves with him hanging upon another cross, and I begin to cry out and speak the words of the thief, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’ [Luke 23:42]. And the Savior answered and said to the thief that was hanging, ‘Go down from the cross and save him that is lying there, even as you were saved.’ And the thief came down from the cross and took me in his arms and kissed me, and stretching forth his right hand raised me up, saying, ‘Come to the Savior.’ And straightway I rose up and ran to Him, and I see Him coming down from the Cross and saying to me, ‘Take this wood and keep it.’ And I took the same precious wood and lifted it up, and straightway I came to myself out of my trance, and from that same hour there was no more pain in me, neither is the place of the disease manifest.”
But I, when I had heard these things, marveled exceedingly, and glorified God, who ever shows mercy unto them that call upon Him, and much more unto them that truly and sincerely pray to Him.
