Doctrinal question

[Karen Adams]

Please forgive me if this isn't the right place to post my question; I'm not sure where to go. I attended a ROC as a young child, with my mother, and I have a vague memory of being told by a priest that Orthodox believe that there were three men who were there at the crucifixion of Jesus, and have lived for the last 2000 years on earth, and will continue to do so until He returns. I've tried to find more info on this, to no avail. (I need the info for a piece I'm writing.) Does anyone know what I'm talking about? What this idea is called? I would be most grateful for any help. Thank you!

[Father David Moser]

There is no such Orthodox tradition to my knowledge. I think that what you heard must have been an odd legend with no basis in fact - something on the order of the DaVinci code...

Fr David Moser

[Kris]

Well the Bible tells us Enoch and Elijah did not suffer death, but were taken into heaven alive. Tradition suggests this also happened to St. John the Evangelist.

So there are three men who were taken into heaven alive and will return to earth, one of whom was present at the crucifixion of our Lord. Could this be what you were referring to?

[Michael Stickles]

That sounds a lot like the medieval legend of the Wandering Jew, who allegedly taunted Christ at (or along the way to) Golgotha and was cursed to wander the earth until He returned. There were three primary names by which this person was known - Malchus, Cartaphilus and Ahasuerus - so someone may have misinterpreted that as three different people. Or, the original story may have gotten mixed up with a similar story involving three people (like the three Nephites in the Book of Mormon) and a hybrid story formed.

But unless the original story you heard was along the lines of what Kris mentioned, it probably has no factual basis, as Father David said.