De sancto Longino
The Centurion's Conversion
Longinus witnesses the crucifixion, receives physical and spiritual sight, and dedicates his life to monastic service.
Longinus was a centurion who, while standing guard at the Lord's cross under Pilate's orders, pierced the Lord's side with a lance; seeing the signs that followed—the sun darkening and the earthquake—he believed in Christ. This happened largely because, as some say, his eyes had grown dim from illness or old age, and when the blood of Christ ran down the lance, it accidentally touched his eyes and he immediately saw clearly. Consequently, he left the military and, instructed by the apostles in Caesarea of Cappadocia, lived a monastic life for twenty-eight years, converting many to the faith through both his words and his example.
The Martyrdom and Power of Faith
Longinus faces persecution, confronts demonic forces, and secures the governor's conversion through his own death.
When he was seized by the governor and refused to offer sacrifice, the governor ordered all his teeth to be knocked out and his tongue cut off; yet Longinus didn't lose his speech, but instead took an axe, smashed the idols, and said, "If these are gods, we'll see." But demons came out of the idols and entered the governor and all his associates, and as they raved and barked, they threw themselves at Longinus's feet, and Longinus asked them, "Why do you live in idols?" They answered, "Where Christ is not named and his sign is not placed, there is our dwelling." When the governor was raving and had lost his sight, Longinus told him, "Know that you cannot be healed until you kill me; for as soon as I am dead by your hand, I will pray for you and obtain for you the healing of both body and soul." The governor immediately ordered him to be beheaded; after this, he went to the body, prostrated himself in tears, and performed penance, at which point he immediately received his sight and health, and finished his life in good works.
Read the original Latin
Longinus fuit quidam centurio, qui cum aliis militibus cruci domini adstans jussu Pylati latus domini lancea perforavit et videns signa, quae fiebant, solem scilicet obscuratum et terrae motum in Christum credidit. Maxime ex eo, ut quidam dicunt, quod cum ex infirmitate vel senectute oculi ejus caligassent, de sanguine Christi per lanceam decurrente fortuito oculos suos tetigit et protinus clare vidit. Unde renuntians militiae et ab apostolis instructus in Caesaria Cappadociae viginti octo annis monasticam vitam daxit et verbo et exemplo ad fidem multos convertit. Cum autem a praeside tentus fuisset et sacrificare nollet, jussit praeses omnes dentes ejus excuti et linguam abscidi, Longinus tamen ex hoc loquelam non perdidit, sed accepta securi omnia ydola comminuit et fregit dicens: si dii sunt, videbimus. Daemones autem de ydolis exeuntes in praesidem et in omnes socios ejus intraverunt et insanientes et latrantes se Longini pedibus prostraverunt et ait Longinus daemonibus: cur habitatis in ydolis? Qui responderunt: ubi non nominatur Christus et ejus signum non est positum, ibi est habitatio: nostra. Cum ergo praeses insaniret et oculos amisisset, dixit ei Longinus: scito quia sanari non poteris, nisi quando me occideris ; quam cito enim a te mortuus fuero, pro te orabo et sanitatem tibi corporis et animae impetrabo. Et statim eum decollari jussit; post hoc abiit ad corpus ejus et prostratus cum lacrimis poenitentiam egit; et continuo visum et sanitatem recepit et in bonis operibus vitam finivit.
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