“Longinus was the centurion who with other soldiers stood by the Lord‘s cross, and who by Pilate‘s order pierced Christ‘s side with a spear.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 184
The 15th March is the traditional feast day of Saint Longinus. The Golden Legend of the Middle Ages features his biography, and the Roman Martyrology has this to say about him on this very day:
“At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the martyrdom of St Longinus, the soldier who is said to have pierced our Lord’s side with a lance.“
Roman Martyrology
After his conversion, which occured right on mount Golgatha at the foot of the cross, Longinus “quit the military career“, “received instruction from the apostles at Caesarea of Cappadocia“, “devoted the next twenty-eight years to living the monastic life, and by word and example made many converts to the faith“ (Golden Legend: 184) – before meriting the crown of martyrdom when he refused to worship the idols as ordered by the governor.
“When the governor ordered him to worship the idols and Longinus refused, the governor commanded that all his teeth be pulled out and his tongue be cut off, but Longinus did not lose the power of speech. Moreover, he took an ax and with it smashed all the idols, saying: ‘We shall see whether they are gods!‘ The demons came out of the idols and infested the bodies of the governor and his attendants, and all of them began to rage and rant and bark like dogs, then collapsed at the feet of Longinus. He asked the demons: ‘Why do you live in idols?‘ They answered: ‘We can live anyplace where Christ‘s name is not heard and the sign of the cross is absent!‘
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 184
The governor was still in a rage and had lost his sight, and Longinus told him: ‘Know that you cannot be cured unless you have me put to death. As soon as I am dead, I will pray for you and ask God to restore you to health of body and soul.‘ So the governor ordered the beheading of Longinus, after which he went to the martyr‘s body, prostrated himself, and with tears did penance, whereupon his sight and health came back and he spent the rest of his life in good works.“
The Golden Legend identifies Longinus both with the believing centurion and with the soldier opening Christ‘s side:
“The centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said, ‘In truth this man was son of God.‘“
Matthew 27: 54
“When they (i.e. the soldiers) came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, so they did not break his legs, but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.“
John 19: 33-34
“Longinus was the centurion who with other soldiers stood by the Lord‘s cross, and who by Pilate‘s order pierced Christ‘s side with a spear. Seeing the signs that accompanied his death, the darkness and the earthquake, Longinus believed in Christ. Yet according to some accounts, what did most to convince him was that, age and infirmity having left him almost blind, the blood that ran down the shaft of the spear touched his eyes and at once he saw clearly.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 184
Saint Longinus, holy martyr, pray for us!