(1ST CENT.)
[Modern Roman Martyrology. The name of Longinus was not known to the
Greeks previous to the patriarch Germanus, in 715. It was introduced
amongst the Westerns from the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. There is
no reliable authority for the Acts and martyrdom of this saint.]
The name Longinus, given in the gospel of Nicodemus to the soldier who
pierced the side of Christ, is probably due to a mistake. The name
is probably Latinized from _Longche_, a spear. Some think that the
soldier who pierced the side, and the centurion who exclaimed at the
earthquake, confessing the Sonship of Christ, are the same, but there
is the greatest uncertainty on every point connected with Longinus. The
Greeks commemorate Longinus the Centurion on October 16th. The Latin
Acts of S. Longinus confuse the centurion and the soldier together.
The Greek Acts pretend to be by S. Hesychius (March 28th), but are an
impudent forgery of late date. It is pretended that the body of S.
Longinus was found at Mantua in 1304, together with the sponge stained
with Christ's blood, wherewith he had assisted in cleansing our Lord's
body when it was taken down from the cross. These relics have been
distributed in various places. Part are in Prague, others in Carlstein,
the body in the Vatican at Rome. But the Sardinians assert that they
possess the body of S. Longinus, which was found in their island, where
he had suffered under Nero. And the Greeks say he suffered in Gabala,
in Cappadocia. The head is, however, also said to have been found in
Jerusalem, and carried into Cappadocia.