Is Demas also the right-hand thief?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
No, it is important to distinguish between the two. Demas was the companion of St. Paul who apostatized by loving this present world. The "Right-Hand Thief" (the Penitent Thief) who was crucified alongside our Lord Jesus Christ is traditionally known in the Coptic Orthodox Church as Demas (also spelled Dismas or Dimas).
While they share the same name, they are two entirely different figures in Church history and tradition.
The Right-Hand Thief
The Right-Hand Thief, whom we honor especially during the services of Great Friday, is the first person to enter Paradise after the Crucifixion.
According to our tradition and the apocryphal accounts often referenced in Patristic history:
- His Repentance: While the thief on the left blasphemed, the thief on the right rebuked him and confessed the Lord’s divinity, saying, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).
- The Promise: Our Lord responded with the definitive promise of salvation: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
- The Sword of the Barbarian: In some hagiographic accounts found in our Coptic heritage, there are stories involving a reformed robber who later faced worldly justice. In one particular tradition, a former robber who had repented was later wrongly accused or recognized by a stolen sword in a marketplace (such as in Tarnot) and was beheaded, thus completing his journey through martyrdom.
Distinguishing the Two:
- Demas the Apostate: A New Testament figure and former worker with St. Paul who left the faith for the love of the world (2 Timothy 4:10).
- Demas (Dismas) the Penitent Thief: The "Good Thief" on the Cross who recognized Christ as King and was granted Paradise.
In the Coptic Liturgy and the Golgotha hymn sung on Great Friday, we remember the Penitent Thief's confession deeply, as it represents the ultimate hope of repentance. We say: "Remember me, O Lord, when You come into Your kingdom".