Martyr Longinus the Centurion

Longinus is the name tradition gives to the centurion who stood guard at the Crucifixion of the Lord and, seeing the earthquake and all that took place, confessed, 'Truly this was the Son of God' (Matthew 27:54). Tradition also identifies him with the soldier who pierced the Savior's side with a spear, from which flowed blood and water, and holds that an eye ailment was healed when the blood touched his eyes. Assigned afterward to guard the tomb, he witnessed the angel who announced the Resurrection and refused the bribe offered to the soldiers to say the disciples had stolen the body. Leaving military service, he returned to his native Cappadocia with two companions and preached Christ. At the instigation of the Jewish elders, Pilate sent soldiers to behead him. His head, tradition says, was later found by a blind widow who received her sight.