SAINT LONGINUS: THE SOLDIER WHO SAW THE TRUTH AT THE CROSS!!!!
Few conversion stories in Christian history are as dramatic, unexpected, or transformative as that of Saint Longinus. His name appears only in tradition not in Scripture but the role he played in the Passion of Christ is one of the most recognized in Christian devotion. Longinus is remembered as the Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, witnessed the extraordinary signs at Golgotha and became one of the earliest proclaimed followers of Christ.
Who Was Longinus?
In the Gospel narratives, a Roman soldier stands at the foot of the Cross. He is the one who, fulfilling his duty, pierces the side of Jesus (John 19:34).
Another passage mentions a centurion who, after seeing the darkness, the earthquake, and the way Jesus died, proclaimed: “Truly, this was the Son of God.” — Matthew 27:54
Early Christian tradition identifies this soldier as Longinus, a name derived from the Greek word lónkē, meaning “spear.”
The act that was supposed to prove Jesus was dead instead became the moment Longinus encountered the truth he had never known.
The Moment That Changed Everything
According to tradition, when Longinus pierced Christ’s side, blood and water flowed out: a sign rich in symbolism, later understood as representing the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist.
Some early writings claim that Longinus had poor eyesight and that the blood that splashed from Christ’s side healed him instantly. Whether taken literally or symbolically, this detail expresses one central idea:
Encountering Jesus opened his eyes both physically and spiritually.
Witnessing the events around the Crucifixion and Resurrection compelled Longinus to abandon military life, leave behind pagan Rome, and declare himself a follower of the very man he had helped execute.
A Soldier Turned Proclaimer of Christ
Tradition teaches that after the Crucifixion, Longinus returned to his homeland often identified as Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey) where he openly preached about Christ.
This was not a safe decision.
The Roman authorities, threatened by the growing Christian movement, ordered Longinus arrested. When soldiers arrived, they reportedly found him living peacefully and serving others. After openly confessing his faith and refusing to renounce Christ, Longinus was executed thus becoming a martyr of the early Church.
Longinus is remembered not only for his role in the Passion but for what followed it:
1. A Story of Radical Conversion
From a Roman executioner to a devoted Christian martyr, his transformation reflects the power of grace and the possibility of redemption for anyone no matter their past.
2. A Witness to the Crucifixion
His proclamation, “Truly, this was the Son of God,” is one of the earliest confessions of Christ’s divinity from a non-Jewish source.
3. A Symbol of the Spear of Faith
In Christian art, Longinus is often shown holding the spear and gazing toward the crucified Christ a reminder that the moment of encountering Jesus can transform even the hardest heart.
4. A Patron of the Spiritually Blind
Because tradition connects him with eyesight restored at the Cross, many Christians ask his intercession for spiritual clarity and healing.
Legacy and Feast Day
Longinus is honored in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
The Roman Catholic Church celebrates his feast on March 15, while some Eastern Churches commemorate him on October 16.
Millions today still venerate the Spear of Longinus, believed by tradition to be preserved in various historical collections. Whether the exact spear survives or not, what matters most is the story behind itthe encounter that turned a soldier into a saint.
A Lesson for Today
Saint Longinus reminds us that God’s grace can reach anyone, even in the most unlikely places. His life teaches that no past is too dark, no heart too hardened, and no moment too late for transformation.
His story invites us to look toward Christ with the same recognition he had at the foot of the Cross:
“Truly, this was the Son of God.”
