St. Mc. Longhin the Centuriontranslated

Orthodox calendar, October 16 St. Mc. Longhin the Centurion He was part of the army led by Pontius Pilate. He was the one who commanded the guard of the Cross at the Crucifixion of the Lord and the guard of the Holy Sepulcher. Thanks to the miracles that happened at the death of the Lord (the earth shook, the sun darkened, the tombs were opened and the stones were split), he testified: "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27, 54).

When the Jews learned of the Resurrection of Christ, they went to bribe the soldiers, so that they would say that the Lord's body had been stolen by His disciples. Longhin, however, did not allow himself to be bought, but renounced his military belt and was baptized together with two other soldiers. Together with the two he left Jerusalem and went to Cappadocia. There he converted many pagans to Christianity.

The Jews insisted so much that Longinus be killed that Pilate would send soldiers to arrest him and kill him by beheading. Saint Longinus, knowing his end, went out to meet the soldiers and welcomed them to him with great warmth.

While the soldiers slept, Saint Longinus prayed all night for the release of his soul. At dawn, the soldiers were amazed…