Longinus the Centurion

Holy Martyr Longinus the Centurion who pierced Christ's side.

St. Longinus was the centurion who stood guard at the Cross of Christ and, beholding the darkness and the earthquake, confessed: truly this was the Son of God. Tradition holds that he was also among the guards at the tomb, and that having become a believer he left the army and preached Christ in his native Cappadocia.

For this confession he was beheaded, sealing with his blood the faith he first proclaimed on Golgotha. He is commemorated on October 16.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Longinus the Centurion is commemorated on October 16. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 29 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Longinos, Longin

Also commemorated on October 16

• Leontios, Dometios, Terentios and Domninos

  Martyr, Λεόντιος, Δομέτιος, Τερέντιος και Δομνίνος

  Holy Martyrs Leontios, Dometios, Terentios and Domninos.

• Malos the Hermit

  Venerable, Μαλός

  Venerable Malos the Hermit, wonderworker.

• John of Tourkolekas

  Martyr, Ιωάννης ο Τουρκολέκας

  Holy New Martyr John of Tourkolekas in Messenia, put to death by the Turks as a boy.

• Longinus the Gatekeeper

  Venerable, Λογγίνος ο φύλακας της θύρας

  Venerable Longinus the Gatekeeper of the Kiev Caves.

• Gallus of Switzerland

  Venerable, Γάλλος

  Venerable Gallus, Irish missionary and hermit, enlightener of the Swiss.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.