Homily II on Saint Longinus the Centurion

1The presbyter Hesychius of Jerusalem offers a eulogy to the holy centurion Longinus. The victors of struggle, who are also heavenly citizens and soldiers of Christ, are heirs of the kingdom and ambassadors to the Lord of the world. They are companions of cherubim and healers of the sick, purifiers of lepers and expellers of demons. As witnesses of faith, they destroy idols, those who trampled the devil through the body, considering them as nothing. They tame beasts and blunt swords, and are sealed and known by Christ. These beautiful flowers of the churches are powerful ambassadors and stars of the world, and include holy first martyrs like John the Baptist, Stephen, and Longinus the centurion.

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and Savior in Bethlehem of Judea was announced to King Herod, who initially received the news with hope, relying on the Magi. However, he soon became enraged and sent Longinus the centurion to investigate. Longinus was instructed to learn carefully if a king was indeed born, so that Herod could worship him, having been deceived by the Magi. On his way to Bethlehem, Longinus saw a great light shining around him and heard a voice saying, 'Come, Longinus, my beloved, and I will make you a centurion of holy martyrs.' Falling to the ground, Longinus worshiped the one who gave him the voice and said, 'May it happen to me according to your word, Lord God', and he went to Bethlehem of Judea to worship the child, Lord Jesus Christ, and said to him, 'Hail, king of the world'.

As I journeyed to Bethlehem of Judea, I prayed that God's will would be done in my life, and I went to worship the child Jesus Christ. Upon seeing him, I exclaimed, 'Hail, king of the world!' I had come to realize that this child was truly the son of God, the king and redeemer of all the world.

However, not everyone shared my conviction. When I expressed my beliefs to Herod, he became angry and asked if I was willing to testify under oath about Jesus. I reaffirmed my faith, stating that I had seen the heavens open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the child and worshiping him, and that the Holy Spirit had descended upon him. Herod, still skeptical, offered me half of his kingdom if I would hand Jesus over to him, but I refused, saying that I had defected to the army of the eternal king and could not betray him.

If you desire, believe and you will become an heir of eternal life and the kingdom. For this reason, you have been released. I will go to him and share the good news, so that he may become an heir of eternal life and the kingdom, and I may be worthy of great honor because I brought the good news to you.

Herod, having become angry with him, said to his magistrates, 'Since I have bestowed great honor upon him and made him a centurion, he thinks he is someone important, even though he is nothing.' So, take away his cloak, remove the madman from him, and take the sword from his waist, because he has shown him.

2Herod was furious and ordered that the man be thrown into the inner prison, with a golden necklace around his neck and heavy chains placed around his neck and waist, until he could devise many torments for him. After that, he would have the man's head cut off. He then issued a decree that all infants in Bethlehem, from two years old and under, were to be killed. The soldiers carried out the king's orders and slaughtered all the infants.

Herod's rage was fueled by his deception at the hands of the Magi, and he summoned Longinus, ordering him to be brought before him. When Longinus was led in, the king noticed that he was wearing a golden necklace around his neck, a royal cloak, and a sword at his waist. Herod was enraged and roared like a lion, demanding to know why his nobles had not removed the necklace, sword, and cloak. The nobles replied that they had followed the king's orders, but they did not know who had dressed Longinus in the royal attire. Herod then turned to Longinus and demanded that he confess who had given him the royal clothes.

I speak the truth and do not lie, for I have received my testimony from none other than the eternal King Jesus Christ himself. Herod, however, was skeptical and asked, 'Who is it that has clothed you in this garment?' The holy Longinus replied, 'It was the Lord himself who sent his angel to clothe me in this garment and to seal me with the seal of the eternal King Jesus Christ.'

Herod, unconvinced by Longinus' words, ordered his magistrates to take the garment from him and burn it with fire, believing that Longinus was lying about receiving it from his king. But when the magistrates approached Longinus, they found that they could not take the garment from him, for it seemed to be surrounded by a shadow. They reported back to Herod, saying, 'We see him clothed in a shadow, and we cannot take anything from him.' Herod, realizing that there was something supernatural at work, exclaimed, 'Now I know that there is magic in making the cloak invisible.' The holy Longinus, however, denied any knowledge of magic, saying, 'By the heavenly King who came down from heaven, I do not know what magic is, for he himself hates magicians and sorcerers. How can I, being his servant, have a heart polluted with magic and deceit? But I tell you that the power of God has surrounded me and protects me.' Herod, troubled by Longinus' responses, ordered his soldiers to pierce him.

Now I am relieved, having suffered for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, having become his friend and being loved by him. For I was held in great fear because of your evil machinations.

Herod, however, was not so easily swayed, and his anger towards Longinus, the ungodly soldier, only intensified. He ordered his magistrates to strike Longinus with three blows of wood and to put heavy iron on him, so that, being melted and torn apart, he may lose his strength and beauty. But despite the brutal treatment, Longinus remained unbroken, and his face continued to shine as if it were the face of an angel. When Herod saw him, he was furious, and his anger was directed not only at Longinus but also at his own magistrates, whom he expelled in a fit of rage.

3The king, filled with anger and suspicion, ordered the executioners to be beheaded and dismissed the soldiers standing by him, thinking that a plot was being formed against him.

He then spoke to Saint Longinus, demanding that he swear by the salvation of the gods that he would not speak or swear about the one born, or call him king, in order to escape the torments and punishments that awaited him.

Saint Longinus refused, saying that he would not deny his God, trusting in Jesus Christ, who saves those who believe in him, and he was not afraid of the king's torments.

He praised God, saying, 'Lord, God, the eternal king of kings and lord of lords, who sits kings on the earth and lifts up the poor from the ground, the only merciful one, send your angel to strengthen me.'

Herod, seeing that Saint Longinus did not feel the torments, instructed his magistrates to take him away to prison, bind him with chains, and after mocking him, bring him to the king, so that he might reward them with great honor.

After three days in prison, Saint Longinus prayed at night, saying, 'Lord, Jesus Christ, send your angel and rescue your servants who are being punished here.'

As he prayed, a great earthquake struck, causing the prison to shake violently, and a light shone around holy Longinus, and a voice was heard, urging him to rise quickly, for it was not yet time to complete his martyrdom, saying, 'Rise quickly; for now is not the time to complete your martyrdom.'

Immediately, the bonds that held the prisoners fell away, and the prison doors swung open, and about a thousand men emerged and fled the city, creating a great commotion, and there was a great uproar in the city.

The king, upon hearing of the events in the prison, rushed to the scene, only to find that holy Longinus was nowhere to be found, leaving him perplexed, and he was searching for him, but holy Longinus was moving freely about the city, and no one could see him, for their eyes had been darkened.

Herod, determined to capture him, sent out search parties, but to no avail, and the city was in an uproar, with loud noises and angry voices raised against the pious, and he sent reminders to the nations, hoping to capture the servant of God, whom he believed had escaped from the city.

However, Herod's own life was soon to come to an end, for he was struck with blindness and lay dying, his body consumed by worms, and he eventually died.

Archelaus, the son of Herod, took his place as ruler, bearing the same name as his father.

Holy Longinus waited patiently in the holy city for salvation from God, and after the death of Archelaus, Herod, the brother of Philip, reigned over Judea and Galilee, and Longinus was received into his own order.

He was beholding the great deeds of God and the wonders happening every day by our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, king of the Romans, and Herod, brother of Philip, John the Baptist was beheaded through Herodias (Matthew 14:10).

Herod, son of Herod, brother of Archelaus, was reigning in Galilee.

In the 25th year of his rule, during the consulship of Rufus and Rubellius, under the high priesthood of Joseph and Caiaphas, our Lord Jesus Christ was delivered to Pilate to be crucified (Luke 23:1).

Pilate, knowing that Jesus was a Galilean and under Herod's authority, sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem.

Herod, mocking and despising Jesus, clothed him in a bright robe and sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:11).

Pilate, calling together the chief priests and rulers, was examining them, saying that they had delivered an innocent man to him.

They handed Jesus over to be crucified, and they crucified the one who bore the sin of the world (John 1:29), nailing him to the cross.

Pilate appointed a centurion over the soldiers who crucified him.

4Longinus, a centurion who had been renamed Primianus in the army, was standing guard with the other soldiers, watching over the Christ who had been crucified.

From the sixth hour to the ninth hour, darkness occurred in all the land.

The centurion stood guard about the ninth hour, watching the cross, and he saw a great light around himself, while darkness was over all the earth.

He also saw a multitude of angels standing by the cross and the whole earth shaking, and the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).

Additionally, he saw the face of the Lord as lightning.

Before Jesus gave up his spirit, the holy Longinus thought in his heart, saying, 'Truly this one is the Son of God and the redeemer of all the world.'

As he thought these things, he fell upon his face toward the feet of the Lord.

An ecstasy came upon the soldiers, and they were turned into sleep.

The holy Longinus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me; for I believed that you are the Son of God, the Savior of the world.'

Jesus said to him, 'Man, you are born today, and your memorial shall be spoken until the last days.'

Having heard these things, the holy Longinus said to Jesus, 'Lord, I go out of this city because of the threat of the magnates.'

Jesus said to him, 'On your forehead, make the sign of the cross, for I will baptize you with your blood, and go.'

After making the sign of the cross, the centurion was guarding the precious cross with the soldiers.

And Jesus, about the ninth hour, cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani', that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:46).

And he gave up the spirit.

And behold, a great earthquake occurred, and the earth was shaken, and the sun was darkened from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, and the stars of the heaven appeared, and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the sleeping saints were raised (Matthew 27:51-53).

The centurion, Longinus, who also was Primianus, the one standing by the cross, glorified God over all things that had happened, the wonders, and said, 'Truly the Son of God is this one and the redeemer of the world.'

And all those who were coming together for the viewing, having seen the things that happened, were striking their faces and turned back.

The centurion Longinus, who also had been entrusted with the cross, brought word to the governor about the things that had happened, the wonders.

And having left all things there, he went to his own country, to Cappadocia the second, near Tyanon, to a place called Andrales, which is called Gabrales in Hebrew, and he changed the enclosures of his property, and he was pasturing the sheep.

And having examined the chests, Herod found the holy Longinus mocking the kingdom and rising up against his father and saying to all, 'You must become Christians.'

And having learned exactly from the governor Lucius the account and the confession of the centurion and the endurance, he aroused persecution against the Christians.

And the holy Longinus was being sought by the idolaters.

And when the holy Longinus came to his own place, there was a plundering at that time against all the pious ones, and the king sent three princes with much power to seek the holy Longinus.

And Herod, having summoned the three princes and the soldiers, gave them orders, saying, 'If you do not bring me the head of Longinus the centurion, your heads will be cut off by swords.'

And having taken these orders, they went on the search, grieving exceedingly.

For from Antioch they went and even as far as Rome and Illyricum, having gone around, they did not find him.

And being grieved and having turned back, they were walking about in Cappadocia and having come near Tyanon, they sought the holy Longinus.

And having come to the village of the Andrales, they inquired from those there, and no one gave an answer about him.

For they had held him dear exceedingly.

And not having obtained an answer, the soldiers went out from the village in great grief.

The holy Longinus was near the road, pasturing sheep, through which the sent ones were passing, and he was sitting on the road.

And having seen them from afar coming, he recognized them and stood up.

As the story continues, the holy Longinus was about to face those who were searching for him.

5As they approached, they said to him, 'Well have you come, brothers.' However, they did not recognize the one speaking to them, so Longinus asked, 'Why, brothers, are you troubled and wearied as if from a long and arduous journey?' The men explained their situation, saying, 'Hear our plight, for a decree has been issued by King Herod against Longinus the centurion, stating that if we do not bring his head, our own heads will be forfeit to the sword. We have been searching for him for nine months, but to no avail.' They poured out their hearts, sharing the difficulties they had faced, and asked if he knew anything about a centurion named Longinus.

The holy Longinus listened to their tale and then invited them to rest at his home, promising that they could continue their journey the next day. The following morning, he asked them about the reason behind their diligent search for Longinus. They replied that the king was seeking him because Longinus was undermining his authority by persuading people to worship the crucified Christ, the king of the ages. The men were clearly distraught, unsure of what to do next. The holy Longinus, however, offered them words of comfort, saying, 'Do not be troubled or disheartened, brothers, for I am the one you have been searching for – the servant of God and Jesus Christ, Longinus.' Upon hearing this, the men were shocked and left speechless.

The holy Longinus addressed them, saying, 'Do not be disheartened, brothers, but let us eat and drink, and then go to the one who sent you.' He explained that he had sold his body to Christ in order to buy his soul from him. The people, upon hearing this, responded with tears, saying, 'No, we will go and make a defense for you to the one who sent us, for if you are truly Longinus, we will also die with you.'

They assured him that their intention was not to lead him away to the one who sent them. Longinus, seeing that they were compelled by the spirit of God, asked them to have mercy on him and take his head to the king, promising that they would be without care for the rest of their lives. However, they were afraid and did not want to endure. Longinus swore to them, entreating them to do this, and eventually, they agreed. They asked him to intercede for them in his army, so that it would not be reckoned to them as a sin. After he assured them that he would do this, they cut off his head. The tumult of the lawless ceased after the holy Longinus was beheaded, and his head was taken to the king. The head of the holy Longinus was kept by the prefect Lucius, and the men of the village, where the holy one of God was, took the body and placed it in that village.

6A certain widow named Chrestē was being distressed by a wild spirit, terribly cutting herself, though she was of noble birth.

She intended to travel toward the sunrise the following day; having heard about those who had been healed by Jesus, she resolved to go during that night.

The holy Longinus appeared to her, standing outside of his head.

When she asked, "Who has come here?" the holy Longinus said to her, "Do you wish to be healed?"

She replied, "Yes, Lord, this is my desire." The holy man said to her, "Go to Jerusalem, find the house of Lucius the governor, and seek the head of Longinus the centurion. Bring it to my body, and you shall be saved.

For I am Longinus, the one who tends the sheep by the roadside, and I have not found rest in the place where I was buried until now; but do this, and you shall be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.

Not only will you be healed, but I will also recruit your son, for I am the one speaking to you from outside of the head."

Upon hearing these things, the woman arranged and organized her affairs with her friends. She set out on the road, and having reached the monument, she cried out with a great voice, saying, "Lord, who is in this place, just as you revealed to me in the vision, I am coming, so help me!"

Immediately the place was shaken, and a voice came to her, saying, "Go, for the Christ is the one helping you." Having heard this voice, she traveled her entire way in joy.

When she arrived in Jerusalem, she learned from the people of the city where the house of the governor was, where they were seeking the head of the holy Longinus.

And the governor gave her a sum of honor consisting of two hundred silver denarii.

Having received this, the woman prayed and glorified God for the completion, as though she were being made worthy of the grace of God.

After receiving the head of the honored Longinus along with her son Christos, she prepared to depart in the evening.

And behold, three angels appeared to her, whose glory she was unable to behold; they held white candles in their hands and went before her, singing a hymn to God throughout the entire night.

When the dawn was breaking, they rested in the place where they had arrived to take their food.

After three days, she brought the head of the honored Longinus to his village, having traveled there with her son Christos, and she sent it to the place where he was lying at the sixth hour of the night.

Thus they arrived at the house which the Christ-loving ones had built, a place worthy of the martyr, and immediately the door opened automatically for them, and they saw the tomb...

7As the door opened, a light shone throughout the house. The youth entered the tomb with myrrh and aromatics and placed his head with the body. After he exited the tomb, the area was immediately secured. They returned home, rejoicing and glorifying God.

On the second night, the holy Longinus appeared to the pious woman, expressing his gratitude for the return of his head and promising that she would be healed from that day. He asked if her son would serve in the heavenly or earthly army, and she requested that he enlist her son in the heavenly army.

The next day, the youth went to the vineyard to tend to the vine. While working until the fifth hour, the holy Longinus appeared to him, asking if he was willing to serve in the name of Christ. The youth, seeing him as lightning, asked who he was, and Longinus replied that he was the one who had received his head through the youth's mother and now desired to offer the youth to God. The youth responded, 'If this is true, let it be done to me according to your word,' and immediately gave up his spirit.

The mother of the deceased, following her usual routine, had taken some food and was on her way to visit her son in the vineyard. When she arrived, she found him dead. Overcome with grief, she fell to the ground, becoming fainthearted and tearing her tunic, and lay there as if lifeless.

An angel came and strengthened her, asking why she was weeping. She replied that her only son had perished, the fruit of her womb plucked before its time. The angel reassured her, saying that her son was not lost, but was in the care of Jesus Christ. The angel instructed her to go to the village, gather some pious men, and have them carry her son's body to bury it in the tomb where the most faithful Longinus lies, and that after three days she would see her son in the heavenly army.

8The angel immediately came to the village, bringing comfort to the mother, and through this encounter, the villagers learned what had taken place.

She then reported everything that had happened to the villagers, and after hearing her account, they went to the bishop of Tyana and informed him of the events that had occurred.

Bishop Paphnutius, accompanied by some pious men, went to the place where the young man had died and gave permission for the mother to be summoned.

When the mother arrived, the bishop said to her, 'Do not weep over this; for he himself, having obtained the heavenly kingdom, presides much on our behalf. Let us therefore rejoice all the more and let us not be gloomy.'

Having said these things, he commanded that the body of the young man be lifted and placed with the holy Longinus, and they offered an acceptable sacrifice to the heavenly God.

The pious woman became a deacon and minister of the glorious faith; having offered many things and given much counsel, she continued in the city with the bishop.

And when midnight had come and the night had advanced, at the fourth hour of the night, there appeared to her the holy Longinus, saying: 'Why do you blaspheme me?'

And she, having been frightened and become trembling, said: 'Who are you, Lord?'

And he said to her: 'I am Longinus, the one who had campaigned against your son.'

And the woman, being perplexed about her son, crying out, said: 'Lord, if you had campaigned against him, you would not have killed him.'

And the most faithful Longinus said to her: 'See, even now you speak blasphemy. But arise and go out from your house, and you will see your son, that he has campaigned.'

Having taken hold of her hand, he brought her out, and he saw the heavens opened and a great light in the night.

And having looked up, she saw how, in ecstasy, the heavenly king and her son were advancing forward.

And the holy Longinus said to her: 'Even if now you have seen your son, that he has been arrayed for battle, have you now believed?'

And she said: 'Yes, Lord, it is enough for me what indeed I have spoken concerning you, Master.'

And immediately she became invisible.

She was, however, occupying herself night and day in the holy house, continuing in prayers and hymns and alms, and performing healings through the calling upon of Christ and of the holy martyr, glorifying God in her days for all the good things that had happened to her.

And she departed in the days of Paphnutius, bishop; and they laid her near the holy Longinus in the same house [...] to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory and power unto the ages of ages. Amen.