Longinus is the name given to the Roman solider who pierced
Jesus
in the side with a lance, and blood and water poured out.
The name Longinus is not recorded in the bible, but it has been the traditional name
given to this character in sacred scripture.
His name is probably a Latinized form of the Greek word- longche (?????), the word
used for the lance mentioned in
John
19:34.
Longinus is also identified as the soldier who was present at the Crucifixion, who
testified, "Truly this man was the son of God.”
It is also believed that this pagan, a Roman Solider, converted to
Christianity
after the Crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord.
The spear that Longinus used to pierce the side of Jesus was kept by the early Christians
and held as a holy relic. It was revered by the people in the city of
Jerusalem
. Often people ask how we have these relics.
They have been preserved due to tradition and honor. I always make the analogy of
Elvis. We have Elvis’s toothbrush, clothes etc.
The same would have been with Jesus, after his death and resurrection, everything
would have been held as sacred.
Early Christians would have held onto everything- even the lance that was used
to pierce our Lord’s side- and kept them as sacred treasures.
The story of Longinus continues with the healing of his blindness. It is believed
that he was blind in one eye,
and that when the blood and water poured forth from our Lord’s side it splattered
in his eye and it was cured instantaneously.
The miraculous cure is what prompted him to respond, “Truly this was the son of
God;” and convert to Christianity.
There is a 30 foot statue of St. Longinus in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is
very close to the main papal altar. Above that statue is a small room where the
spear is kept. This relic is revered, now by the people of
Rome and by all the pilgrims who come to the eternal city to pray in the basilica.
Statue of St. Longinus
from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.