One popular theme in mediaeval English culture was the "Harrowing of Hell", or the descent of Christ to the realm of the dead between the crucifixion on Good Friday and the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

What exactly was thought to have happened?

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A major source on the subject was the apocryphal "Gospel of Nicodemus". Let's have a look at what it says.

https://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm

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The souls of the dead are in Hell, when suddenly golden and purple light appears. Adam and Isaiah tell the righteous souls that the promised messiah has come. The righteous dead rejoice. The jubilation continues for some time.

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Satan speaks to a henchman of his called the "Prince of Hell". He recognises his enemy Jesus: "those whom I made blind and lame and those also whom I tormented with several devils, he cured by his word".

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Less edifyingly, Satan says that he tried to cause trouble for Jesus by stirring up "my old people, the Jews". He tells the Prince of Hell that it is Jesus who raises people from the dead. In reply, the Prince tells Satan not to let him into Hell.

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Now comes the entry of Jesus. The Prince sends Satan away contemptuously and orders his minions to close the gates of his realm.

But the righteous dead respond by rising up. King David and Isaiah reiterate the prophecies ascribed to them in the Bible.

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The voice of Jesus is heard demanding to be let in, and presently he appears in the form of a man.

"And [he] broke asunder the fetters which before could not be broken; and with his invincible power visited those who sate in the deep darkness".

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The narrative turns to Death and her servants. Who is this extraordinary being? "Who art thou, so powerful and so weak, so great and so little, a mean and yet a soldier of the first rank, who can command in the form of a servant as a common soldier?"

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The demons of hell are in terror as Jesus seizes hold of the Prince of Hell and deposes him from his position. The Prince remonstrates with Satan: "as a fool [thou] wert ignorant of what thou wast about".

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The Prince continues with his speech: "before, the dead never durst behave themselves insolently towards us, nor, being prisoners, could ever on any occasion be merry". He tells Satan that he will now be damned.

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Jesus declares: "Come to me, all ye my saints, who were created in my image, who were condemned by the tree of forbidden fruit, and by the devil and death".

Adam worships him, followed by the other righteous dead. Jesus makes the sign of the cross over them.

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Jesus now ascends out of hell, followed by the righteous souls. He is praised by David and Habakkuk.

The scene now changes to heaven. Jesus hands Adam over to the Archangel Michael.

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The righteous souls see two old men who are already in heaven. They ask who they are.

One of them introduces himself as Enoch, and tells them that the other is Elijah. God allowed both of them to go directly to heaven without dying in the normal way.

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A third person then explains that he was the Good Thief who was crucified with Jesus.

The Jewish patriarchs cry: "Blessed be thou, O Almighty God... who hast shewn such favour to those who were sinners against him, and hast brought them to the mercy of Paradise.... Amen."

/End