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If this one were not the Lord of the temple, the temple, seeing him being crucified, would not have torn its own veil. If this one were not he who does not will the death of sinners, he would not have interceded for sinners, saying: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. For his death established all things. For he descends into Hades, and with all he ascends. For this reason I cry out, saying: Lord, remember me. Not as a servant I entreat, 'Remember me when you are well off,' but, 'Remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And what did the Master say to him? Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Let the exact reckoners of the incomprehensible generation say, how did he say to the thief, 'Today you will be with me in paradise?' First let them interpret this, and then his ineffable birth, of which he prophetically cries, 'Who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth?' The Fathers broadened this faith; thus they glorified the incomprehensible one, believing, and not being overly curious.

Today you will be with me in paradise. He spoke, and it was so. But, O benevolent Master, all the righteous stand outside paradise, and you bring a thief into paradise? Yes, I bring a thief first into paradise, that I may persuade the world that I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. To Christ himself be glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος Κύριος τοῦ ναοῦ, οὐκ ἂν βλέπων αὐτὸν ὁ ναὸς σταυρούμενον, τὸ οἰκεῖον καταπέτασμα περιέσχισεν. Εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος ὁ μὴ βουλόμενος τὸν θάνατον τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν, οὐκ ἂν ἐπρέσβευσεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν λέγων· Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς· οὐ γὰρ οἴδασι τί ποιοῦσιν. Ὁ γὰρ τούτου θάνατος πάντα συνέστησε. Κατέρχεται γὰρ εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, καὶ μετὰ πάντων ἀνέρχεται. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο κράζω λέγων· Κύριε, μνήσθητί μου. Οὐχ ὡς δοῦλον παρακαλῶ, Μνήσθητί μου, ὅταν εὖ σοι γένηται, ἀλλὰ, Μνήσθητί μου, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου. Καὶ τί πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ∆εσπότης; Ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, σήμερον μετ' ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ. Λεγέτωσαν οἱ ἀκριβεῖς λογοθέται τῆς ἀκαταλήπτου γεννήσεως, πῶς ἔλεγε τῷ λῃστῇ, Σήμερον μετ' ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ; Πρῶτον τοῦτο ἑρμηνευσάτωσαν, καὶ τότε τὸν ἄῤῥητον αὐτοῦ τόκον, ὃν προφητικῶς βοᾷ, Τὴν γενεὰν αὐτοῦ τίς διηγήσεται, ὅτι αἴρεται ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ; Ταύτην ἐπλάτυναν οἱ Πατέρες τὴν πίστιν, οὕτως ἐδόξασαν τὸν ἀπερίληπτον, πιστεύοντες, καὶ μὴ πολυπραγμονοῦντες.

Σήμερον μετ' ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ. Εἶπε, καὶ γέγονεν. Ἀλλ', ὦ φιλάνθρωπε ∆έσποτα, πάντες οἱ δίκαιοι ἔξω τοῦ παραδείσου ἑστήκασι, καὶ λῃστὴν εἰς παράδεισον εἰσάγεις; Ναὶ, λῃστὴν πρῶτον εἰσάγω εἰς τὸν παράδεισον, ἵνα πείσω τὸν κόσμον, ὅτι οὐκ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλ' ἁμαρτωλοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν. Αὐτῷ τῷ Χριστῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.