The Lord of Spirits — "The Harrowing of Hell"

Read by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Date: April 20, 2022

Episode Overview

This episode is a dramatic full reading by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick of the "Harrowing of Hell" section from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus (also known as the Acts of Pilate). This ancient Christian text, not counted as canonical Scripture, powerfully imagines Christ’s descent into Hades after His crucifixion, a central theme especially in Orthodox Holy Week. Fr. Andrew introduces the text’s place in Christian tradition, then voices the vivid account of Jesus' confrontation with Death and Satan, the liberation of the righteous dead, and their entry into Paradise.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Gospel of Nicodemus and its Role in Tradition

• [00:02–01:26]

  • Fr. Andrew explains that the Gospel of Nicodemus is an apocryphal (non-canonical) text, yet regarded as "books to be read at home" by the early Church.
  • He notes its honored liturgical influence, especially around Holy Week.

  “This isn't a text from the Bible … But one of the distinctions from the ancient Church … is between three categories: Books read in Church, Books read at Home, and books not to be read… The Gospel of Nicodemus is that second category, Books to be read at home.” — Fr. Andrew [00:33]

2. Testimony of the Risen Dead

• [01:26–04:41]
  • The resurrected sons of Simeon, Charinus and Levcheus, are brought before the high priests. They write down the mysteries they witnessed in Hades.
  • Their account begins with vivid description:

  “There came a golden heat of the sun and a purple and royal light shining upon us. And immediately the Father of the whole race of men, together with all the patriarchs and prophets, rejoiced.” — [04:41]

3. Christ's Descent and Fulfillment of Prophecy

• [04:41–07:32]

  • Patriarchs and prophets in Hades recognize the prophesied light as Christ, the Son of God. Isaiah quotes his prophecy of a "great light" shining on those in darkness.

  • John the Baptist declares in Hades:

    “I am John, the voice and the prophet of the Most High … now have I come before his face … that he is at hand to visit us, even the Dayspring ... coming from on high unto us that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” — John the Baptist [06:38]

  • Adam instructs Seth to recount the ancient promise he heard from the Archangel Michael—that the “oil of mercy” would only come with Christ.

4. Dramatic Dialogue: Satan and Hades

• [09:19–12:42]
  • Satan and Hell (Hades personified) debate how to receive Jesus, realizing the threat He poses:

    “If thou bring him unto me, he will set free all that are here shut up in the hard prison and bound in the chains of their sins … and will bring them unto the life of his Godhead forever.” — Hades to Satan [11:52]

5. The Breaking of Hell’s Gates

• [12:42–15:38]
  • Christ arrives with a voice "as of thunder":

    “Remove, O princes, your gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.” — [12:49]

  • The saints, led by David and Isaiah, rebuke Hades with prophecies of resurrection and salvation.
  • Christ appears, brings light, breaks unbreakable bonds.

6. The Triumph: The King of Glory Liberates the Dead

• [15:38–18:03]

  • The forces of Hell panic at Christ’s glory.
  • Christ defeats Death and Satan, draws Adam to His light.

  “The King of glory and his majesty trample[d] upon death and laid hold on Satan the prince and delivered him unto the power of hell, and drew Adam to him unto his own brightness.” — [17:47]

7. Christ’s Victory and the Release of the Righteous

• [18:03–22:54]

  • Hades berates Satan for causing his own downfall.

  • Christ bestows peace upon Adam and all his righteous descendants:

    “Come unto me all ye my saints which bear mine image and my likeness, ye that by the tree and the devil and death were condemned. Behold now the devil and death condemned by the tree.” — Christ [20:32]

  • Christ makes the sign of the cross, leads Adam and the saints out of Hades. Prophets (David, Habakkuk, Micah) add their praise:

    “The Lord hath made known his saving health before the face of all nations … such honour have all his saints. Amen. Alleluia.” — David & the Saints [22:16]

8. Into Paradise: Enoch, Elijah, and the Penitent Thief

• [23:12–24:54]
  • Enoch and Elijah greet the liberated saints—never having died, they foreshadow final struggles against the Antichrist.
  • The Penitent Thief ("Good Robber") testifies how faith in Christ on the cross granted him entry to Paradise:

    “I was a robber … And I besought him, saying, remember me, Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom … he gave me the sign of the cross, saying, bear this and go unto Paradise.” — The Thief [25:12]

9. Affirmation and Aftermath

• [27:01–30:13]
  • Charinus and Levcheus conclude their eyewitness account, noting the archangel’s instructions not to reveal more.
  • Their writings match "neither more nor less, by one letter."
  • The Jewish leaders are left troubled, and the testimony is entered into Pilate’s official records.

10. Memorable Closing

• [30:13]
  • Fr. Andrew closes with the Paschal greeting:

    “Christ is risen. He truly is risen.” — [30:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power and honor of apocrypha:

  “A number of Orthodox liturgical texts make use of this text, giving it an honored place within our tradition of worship.” — Fr. Andrew [01:12]

• Prophetic fulfillment recognized by the righteous dead:

  “Did not I when I was alive upon earth, foretell unto you the dead shall arise, and they that are in the tombs shall rise again...” — Isaiah [13:48]

• The Victory Speech Against Hades:

  “O thou most foul and stinking Hell, open thy gates that the King of Glory may come in.” — David [14:11]

• On the reversal of Satan’s scheme:

  “Wherefore wouldst thou do this? … Those thy riches which thou hadst gained by the tree of transgression and the losing of paradise, thou hast lost by the tree of the cross.” — Hades to Satan [18:38]

• The gathering of saints and the sign of the cross:

  “And the Lord stretched forth his hand and made the sign of the cross over Adam and over all his saints. And he took the right hand of Adam and went up out of hell, and all the saints followed him.” — [21:48]

• The humility of salvation:

  “Thou that hast given such grace unto thy sinners, and hast brought them again into the beauty of paradise and into thy good pastures.” — The Saints after the thief’s testimony [26:37]

Timeline of Major Story Beats

• 00:02–01:26: Introduction to the text’s nature and its liturgical relevance.
• 01:26–04:41: Charinus and Levcheus, resurrected, agree to write of what they witnessed in Hades.
• 04:41–07:32: The patriarchs, prophets, and John the Baptist announce and recognize Christ’s coming.
• 07:32–12:42: Adam, Seth, and Michael’s ancient promise; Satan and Hades argue about how to receive Jesus.
• 12:42–15:38: Christ arrives—light breaks darkness; saints rebuke Hades and Death.
• 15:38–18:03: The demonic realm's panic; Christ’s attack on Satan and Death.
• 18:03–22:54: Christ’s victorious rescue of Adam, the righteous dead, and their acclamation by prophets and saints.
• 23:12–24:54: Meeting Enoch, Elijah, and the Penitent Thief in Paradise.
• 27:01–30:13: The testimony is concluded and certified; the Jewish leaders and Pilate are left in awe.

Conclusion

This episode brings to life one of the most beloved and theologically rich ancient Christian accounts of Christ’s victory over death and the liberation of humanity from Hades. Through evocative storytelling and powerful dialogue, listeners gain a vivid new appreciation for the cosmic drama of Holy Saturday in the Orthodox imagination. The reading, deeply scriptural in tone even if not strictly canonical, manifests the hope and triumph of the resurrection as sung and proclaimed in Paschal worship.

For more on the seen and unseen world in Orthodox tradition, visit Ancient Faith Ministries.