Longinus
Festa: October 16
Roman centurion whose conversion at the Crucifixion made him a powerful witness to Christ's divinity.
Patronato
Soldiers, military personnel, eye diseases, blood diseases, spear makers
Virtù e caratteristiche
Biografia
Longinus was a Roman centurion who, according to Christian tradition, pierced the side of Jesus Christ during the Crucifixion. The Gospel of John identifies him as the soldier who thrust his spear into Christ's body. Early Christian accounts, particularly in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, describe how Longinus was cured of blindness by blood and water flowing from Christ's wound, leading to his conversion. Recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, he became a devoted follower and witness to the Resurrection. Longinus is venerated as a saint and martyr in both Eastern and Western Christianity. He is often depicted holding or standing beside the spear, known as the Holy Lance or Spear of Destiny. Traditions vary regarding his later ministry and martyrdom, with some accounts placing him in Cappadocia where he preached the Gospel and was eventually executed for his faith.