Homily I on Saint Longinus the Centurion
Homilia I in sanctum Longinum centurionem
Testimony of Longinus§1
1Homily on the Martyrdom of Saint Longinus the Centurion, who stood at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with him two soldiers, composed by Hesychius, presbyter of Jerusalem.
Many of the martyrs' writings exist, just as painters' images sometimes imitate the appearances of cities, the heights of towers, and the forms of men and women—sometimes young, sometimes elderly, sometimes royal, sometimes bridal, sometimes grim, sometimes joyful—they show; so also the words of those who have recounted the martyrs' struggles have made firm the substance of the soul, and of the manners the manly, and the presentation in terrifying things fearless and bold and unshaken, and the alliance from God against them coming forward, sometimes by the multitude of signs, sometimes by the richness in the words of the grace confessed, to the ears they reveal.
How shall I worthily record the writing of that wise and brave man, Longinus, especially his testimony concerning Christ which he began by confessing him? For when, having been confused by fear, he entirely denied him, the whole chorus of the apostles, the lame whom he raised, the blind whom he called to see, the lepers moreover whom he freed from the variegated skin and the flesh of blemishes, and others whose misfortunes he ceased and whose diseases he dispelled and toward the better nature he transformed—these all, having been struck dumb by the drama of the cross, endured a winter full of shipwreck. The confession of the God-fearing centurion Longinus existed unto the hearing of the wolf-minded synagogue of the Jews, when he said, 'Truly this was the Son of God.'
For neither did he blush at Pilate having been bribed against Christ, nor did he dread so great a fear of these peoples or he aroused the multitude of those unbelieving myriads of them. Let it be said therefore and written also his most beautiful contest which those from the beginning eyewitnesses narrated and to the generation after this they handed down. From that then proceeding even thus until us, the words of the Longinus testimony as certain pearls blameless adorned the holy bridal chamber of Christ were kept safe. Therefore when the guard having been asked Pilate gave into custody of the tomb of the only-begotten Son of God, Longinus was he of these commanders, for he himself was and was guarding the cross of Christ with those under him soldiers.
Greek · §1
Homilia i in sanctum Longinum centurionem (homilia 19) [Dub.] Μαρτύριον τοῦ ἁγίου Λογγίνου τοῦ ἑκατοντάρχου, τοῦ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ δύο στρατιωτῶν, συγγραφὲν παρὰ Ἡσυχίου πρεσβυτέρου Ἱεροσολύμων. 1 Πολλαὶ τῶν μαρτύρων αἱ γραφαί· καθάπερ γὰρ αἱ τῶν ζωγράφων εἰκόνες τινὰς μιμούμεναι τῶν πόλεων ὄψεις, καὶ μεγέθη πύργων, καὶ μορφὰς ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν, ποτὲ μὲν νέας, ποτὲ δὲ πρεσβυτικάς, ποτὲ δὲ βασιλικάς, ποτὲ δὲ νυμφικάς, ποτὲ δὲ σκυθρωπάς, ποτὲ δὲ περιχαρεῖς δεικνύ ονται, οὕτω καὶ οἱ τῶν μαρτυρικῶν ἀγώνων τοὺς λόγους ἱστο ρήσαντες τὸ στερρὸν τῆς ψυχῆς, καὶ τῶν τρόπων τὸ ἀνδρεῖον, καὶ τὴν ἐν τοῖς δεινοῖς παράστασιν ἄφοβον καὶ εὔτολμον καὶ ἀκατάπληκτον, καὶ τὴν ἐκ θεοῦ συμμαχίαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς κα ταβαίνουσαν, ποτὲ μὲν τῷ πλήθει τῶν σημείων, ποτὲ δὲ τῷ πλού τῳ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος ὁμολογουμένην, ταῖς ἀκοαῖς ἐμ φανίζουσιν. Λογγίνου δὲ ἄρα γραφὴν σοφοῦ τε καὶ ἀνδρείου, ἐξαι ρέτως τῆς ὑπὲρ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μαρτυρίας ἧς ἤρξατο ὁμολογήσας αὐτόν, πῶς ἐπαξίως ἱστορήσαιμι; 2 Ὅτε γὰρ τῷ φόβῳ συγχυθεὶς ἐξηρνήσατο αὐτὸν ὅλος ὁ χο ρὸς τῶν ἀποστόλων, χωλοὶ δὲ οὓς ἤγειρεν, τυφλοί τε οὓς ἐφώ τισεν, λεπροί τε μετὰ τούτων οὓς τῆς πολυστίκτου δορᾶς καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς τῶν μωμημάτων ἠλευθέρωσεν, καὶ ἄλλοι ὧν τὰς συμφορὰς ἔπαυσεν καὶ τὰς νόσους ἐχώνευσεν καὶ πρὸς τὸ κρεῖτ τον τὴν φύσιν μετεσκεύασεν, οὗτοι πάντες πρὸς τὸ δρᾶμα τοῦ σταυροῦ καταπλαγέντες χειμῶνος μεστὸν ναυάγιον ὑπέμειναν, ἡ ὁμολογία τοῦ θεοσεβοῦς ἑκατοντάρχου Λογγίνου ὑπῆρχεν εἰς τὰς ἀκοὰς τῆς λυκόφρονος συναγωγῆς τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ὅτε ἔλεγεν· «Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος». Οὔτε γὰρ Πιλᾶτον κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μεμισθωμένον ᾐσχύνετο, οὔτε μὴν φόβον τοσούτων δήμων ᾐδεῖτο ἢ ἐνάρκησε τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀπεί ρων μυριάδων ἐκείνων. Λεγέσθω τοιγαροῦν καὶ γραφέσθω ἡ καλλίστη ἄθλησις αὐτοῦ ἣν οἱ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται διη γήσαντο καὶ τῇ μετὰ ταύτην γενεᾷ παρέδωκαν· ἀπ' ἐκείνης δὲ εἰς τὴν ἑξῆς καὶ οὕτω μέχρις ἡμῶν καταβάντες, οἱ τῆς Λογγί νου μαρτυρίας λόγοι ὡς μαργαρῖταί τινες ἄμωμοι τὸν ἱερὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ νυμφῶνα κοσμοῦντες διεφυλάχθησαν. 3 Ὅτε τοίνυν κουστωδίαν αἰτηθεὶς ὁ Πιλᾶτος εἰς φυλακὴν τοῦ τάφου τοῦ μονογενοῦς υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ἔδωκεν, Λογγῖνος ἦν αὐ τῶν ἔξαρχος· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἦν καὶ τὸν σταυρὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ φυλά ξας μετὰ τῶν ὑπ' αὐτοῦ στρατιωτῶν. Ἀλλὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πρα χθείσης τῆς ἀναστάσεως, ὥσπερ ἡμῖν αἱ τῶν θείων εὐαγγελί ων γραφαὶ παρέδωκαν, καὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἀπαγγειλάντων τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ πρεσβυτέροις τῆς ἰουδαϊκῆς συμμορίας τὰ γενόμενα θαύματα, ἐκεῖνοι μὲν αἰσχυνθέντες τὸν λαὸν καὶ σβέ σαι τὸ θαῦμα βουλόμενοι ἀργύρια ἱκανὰ τοῖς στρατιώταις ἔ δωκαν, ὥστε συκοφαντῆσαι τὴν ἀνάστασιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· οὕ τω δὲ καὶ τὸν Πιλᾶτον δέξασθαι τὴν συκοφαντίαν χρήμασι πολ λοῖς ἔπεισαν. Οὐ μὴν ὁ Λογγῖνος προκρίνει τὸν δόλον τῆς ἀλη θείας, οὐδὲ κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ λαμβάνει χρυσόν, οὐδὲ τὸν μα μωνᾶν τοῦ θεοῦ προτιμῆσαι ὑπέμεινεν, οὐδὲ τῇ πλεονεξίᾳ δου λωθεὶς εἰς τὸν ταύτης βυθὸν τὸν πολυθάνατον ὤλισθεν, οὐ κατὰ Χριστοῦ συκοφαντίας τοῦ ψεύδους ἠνέσχετο, τοῦ τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἐγείραντος καὶ τὸν θάνατον σφάξαντος καὶ τοὺς θνητοὺς ζωώ σαντος. 4 Πρὸς ταῦτα ὁ Πιλᾶτος καὶ οἱ δυνάσται τῶν Ἰουδαίων κεν τούμενοι ἐζήτουν ἐπιβουλὴν κατὰ τοῦ μακαρίου Λογγίνου καὶ καιρὸν οὐκ εἶχον· ἦν γὰρ ὁ Λογγῖνος ὅλης τῆς στρατιωτικῆς φάλαγγος ἐπισημότερος. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἐβουλήθη ὅλως Χριστοῦ 1 γενέσθαι, ἀποδύεται τὴν ζώνην τοῦ Καίσαρος· καὶ λοιπὸν ἐν οἴκῳ κάθηται μετὰ τῶν δύο στρατιωτῶν, οἵτινες σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ τῆς μακαρίας ἐγένοντο ἀθλήσεως συγκληρονόμοι, κήρυκες γενό μενοι ὧν εἶδόν τε καὶ ἀκηκόασιν. Καὶ τὴν Ἰερουσαλὴμ καταλι πὼν ἀνέστρεψεν σὺν αὐτοῖς καὶ γίνεται τῇ Καππαδοκῶν χώρᾳ
The Paradox of Welcoming the Executioner§2
2Just as Thomas went to the Indians, Peter to the Romans, John to the Asiatics, and Paul declared he had preached from Jerusalem and as far as Illyricum, so each herald carried the message to their own people, proclaiming Christ and the mysteries that came from him and were accomplished through him.
But the Jews, burning with zeal and anger and being pierced, could no longer endure the widespread testimony of Longinus, which had already spread through the land in many ways.
Therefore they persuaded Pilate to write falsely to Caesar about the blessed Longinus, claiming that he held alien thoughts toward the Roman Empire, had abandoned his weapons, and was proclaiming Christ as king to the nations.
By these very words, he had already filled his own homeland and country with such teachings.
Moreover, they sent along these letters money and accused Longinus of a capital offense, having seized the attention of Caesar himself, for his sake.
Imperial letters were then sent into Judea to Pilate, bearing instructions according to Longinus and those associated with him.
These orders directed that those who had neglected their weapons should take up swords and behead their targets.
Pilate, with great zeal, entrusted the execution of these Caesar’s letters to the officers overseeing the murders.
They swiftly crossed the land of the Cappadocians, arrived, and learned that in a paternal field Longinus was philosophizing and practicing quietness, having withdrawn from all political affairs.
Quietly they seized his field, intending to carry out the decree of Pilate and of Caesar, so that Longinus would not be driven into flight.
Thus they suddenly stood against the man, as if they had crossed some other threshold, and none of those with them dared to lay a hand on anything.
Then entering and happening upon Longinus, not knowing that he is the one sought by them and by Pilate, they begin to ask where Longinus is.
But he, the divine Spirit having foreshadowed the drama for him, says: 'Follow me,' and I point him out to you.
Then the blessed one, as is fitting, rejoicing and eager for the martyr’s sacrifice, said: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim peace, of those who proclaim good things (Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15).'
Now I will see the heavens opened, now I will recount the glory of the Father, now I will behold the ineffable flash of the Spirit.
Now I will say, 'Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit (Psalm 31:5, Luke 23:46)', as Stephen the first of the martyrs, whose most radiant voice I have heard.
Now Jerusalem, the heavenly golden tower, the same indeed the homeland of the angels, and indeed the metropolis of the whole choir of the holy, with rattles, triumphs, and royal trophies, I will ascend.
Now I put off the clay tunic and the many-groaning bonds of the flesh, I lay aside and free myself from corruption.
For I am drawn to incorruption, having a life free of winter’s storm going out from the temporary life, of which many are the waves and grievous the shipwrecks.
A solitary haven is that immortal life, wherein the saints dwell.
Be glad, O soul, turn toward your Maker as you depart; show a joyful countenance at the time when the face is called beautiful.
Let us kindly entertain those who bring us such great blessings, rejoicing as we do so, and let us set forth a richly laden table for those who summon us to the royal dinner.
Having spoken these words to himself, Longinus welcomed those who had come to him into his own house.
He entertained them splendidly, with a cheerful face and exceeding joy, and having eaten together with them at the table he had prepared, he began to ask them after the meal what they needed.
But they, having exacted oaths from him that he would not make public what concerned them nor reveal the bold mystery, then declared the writings sent against Pilate from Caesar, and said that Longinus, together with two others, had met and severed the head.
And Longinus, inquiring who these were that were with him at the same time, came to know that they were indeed the ones who had hired the Jewish servant and had preferred the Christ, and so he wrote to them with great earnestness, urging them to come quickly to him to share in great blessings.
Longinus entertained them for one day and then a second; on the third day he took them into a field, where he awaited those who had been sent out from him.
But having learned that he was near, he announced to them, saying, 'I myself am Longinus, the one you have been seeking.'
But they at first did not believe him; yet after this they were persuaded and wept, pulling out their own hairs and speaking with mournful voices toward Longinus.
What was your undertaking, my friend, that seemed good?
What was your purpose in bringing violence upon those who came to you, leading to slaughter in your own house?
Why did you prepare a feast for those who came intending your slaughter and remained to carry it out?
Greek · §2
κῆρυξ, ὥσπερ Θωμᾶς τοῖς Ἰνδοῖς, Ῥωμαίοις δὲ Πέτρος, Ἀσιανοῖς δὲ Ἰωάννης, Παῦλος «ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ μέχριτοῦ Ἰλλυρικοῦ», καὶ ἄλλος ἄλλοις, εὐαγγελιζόμενος τὸν Χρι στὸν καὶ τὰ παρ' αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ πεπραγμένα μυστήρια. 5 Ἰουδαῖοι δέ, καιόμενοι τῷ ζήλῳ καὶ τῷ θυμῷ κεντούμενοι, τὴν τοῦ Λογγίνου μαρτυρίαν, πολυμερῶς ἤδη τῆς γῆς διαδρα μοῦσαν, καρτερεῖν οὐκ ἠδύναντο. Τότε τὸν Πιλᾶτον πείθουσι ψευδῆ κατὰ Λογγίνου γράψαι τοῦ μακαρίου τῷ Καίσαρι, ὅτι τῆς Ῥωμαίων βασιλείας ἀλλότρια φρονεῖ καί, τῶν ὅπλων ἀμε λήσας, τὸν Χριστὸν κηρύττει βασιλέα τοῖς ἔθνεσιν· ἤδη δὲ τῶν περὶ τούτου λόγων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πατρίδα καὶ χώραν ἐπλήρωσεν. Πρὸς τούτοις τοῖς γράμμασι συναποστέλλουσι χρήματα καὶ τὸν Λογγίνου θάνατον ἐξωνοῦνται, τὰς ἀκοὰς Καίσαρος ὑφαρπάσαν τες. Βασιλικὰ δὲ γράμματα εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν τῷ Πιλάτῳ κο μίζεται κατὰ Λογγίνου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ· οἵτινες ὡς τὰ τῶν ὅπλων ἀμελήσαντες ξίφει τὰς κεφαλὰς ἀποθέσθαι προστάττον ται. Σπουδῇ δὲ πολλῇ τοῖς τῶν φόνων ὑπηρέταις ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐγχει ρίζει τὰ γράμματα τοῦ Καίσαρος. Οἱ δὲ τάχος διαβάντες τὴν τῶν Καππαδοκῶν γῆν φθάνουσιν καί, μαθόντες ἐν ἀγρῷ πατρῴῳ τὸν Λογγῖνον φιλοσοφεῖν καὶ τὴν ἡσυχίαν ἀσκεῖσθαι πάντων τῶν πολιτικῶν πραγμάτων ἑαυτὸν ἀπαλλάξαντα, τὸν ἀγρὸν αὐ τίκα καταλαμβάνουσιν ἡσυχῆ, τὸ ἐπίταγμα Πιλάτου καὶ Καί σαρος ἐπιτελέσαι βουλόμενοι, ὥστε μὴ εἰς φυγὴν τὸν Λογγῖ νον τραπῆναι. Ὅθεν ἀθρόον ἐπέστησαν τῷ ἀνδρί, ὡς ἐπ' ἄλ λῳ τινὶ διαβάντες, καὶ οὐδὲν οὐδενὶ τῶν μετὰ χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπι φερομένων ἐθάρρησαν. Εἶτα εἰσελθόντες καὶ τῷ Λογγίνῳ περι τυχόντες, οὐκ εἰδότες αὐτὸν εἶναι τὸν αὐτοῖς τε καὶ Πιλάτῳ ζητούμενον, ἄρχονται ἐρωτᾶν ποῦ ὁ Λογγῖνος εἴη. 6 Ὁ δέ, τοῦ θείου Πνεύματος αὐτῷ τὸ δρᾶμα προδηλώσαντος· «Ἀκολουθεῖτε», φησίν, «καὶ τοῦτον ὑποδείκνυμι ὑμῖν.» Τότε πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ὁ μακάριος, ὡς εἰκός, εὐφραινόμενος καὶ τοῦ μαρ τυρίου τὴν θυσίαν ἐπισπουδάζων ἔλεγεν· «Ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων εἰρήνην, τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων τὰ ἀγα θά. Νῦν τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἀνεῳγμένους ὄψομαι, νῦν ἱστορήσω τὴν δόξαν τοῦ Πατρός, νῦν τὴν ἀνέκφραστον ἀστραπὴν θεωρή σω τοῦ Πνεύματος. Νῦν ἐρῶ «Κύριε, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, δέξαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου», καθάπερ Στέφανος ὁ πρῶτος τῶν μαρτύρων, οὗ λαμπροτάτην φωνὴν ἀφιέντος ἀκήκοα. Νῦν Ἰερουσαλήμ, τὴν ἀνωτάτην χρυσόπυργον, τὴν αὐτὴν μὲν πατρίδα τῶν ἀγγέ λων, ὅλου δὲ τοῦ τῶν ἁγίων χοροῦ μητρόπολιν, μετὰ κρότων, ἐπινικίων καὶ βασιλικῶν τροπαίων ἐπιβήσομαι. Νῦν ἀποδύο μαι τὸν πήλινον χιτῶνα καὶ τοὺς πολυστενάκτους δεσμοὺς τῆς σαρκὸς ἀποτίθημι καὶ ἀπαλλάττομαι φθορᾶς· πρὸς ἀφθαρ σίαν γὰρ ἕλκομαι, ἕξω μοι βίον χειμῶνος ἀπηλλαγμένον ἐξιὼν ἐκ τοῦ προσκαίρου βίου, οὗ πολλὰ τὰ κύματα καὶ χαλεπὰ τὰ ναυάγια. Λιμὴν μόνος ἀθάνατος ἐκείνη ἡ ζωή, ἔνθα κατοικοῦ σιν οἱ ἅγιοι. Εὐφραίνου, ψυχή, πρὸς τὸν σὸν ποιητὴν ἀπερχο μένη, δεῖξον φαιδρὸν καιροῦ καλοῦντος τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ τοὺς προξένους σοι τῶν τοσούτων ἀγαθῶν φιλοφρόνως ξενίσωμεν χαίροντες, καὶ πολυτελῆ παραθήσωμεν τράπεζαν τοῖς ἐπὶ τὸ δεῖπνον ἡμᾶς καλοῦσι τὸ βασιλικόν.» 7 Ταῦτα πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ὁ Λογγῖνος εἰπὼν τοὺς ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἐλθόν τας εἰς τὸν ἴδιον οἶκον παρέλαβεν καί, ξενίσας λαμπρῶς καὶ προσώπῳ φαιδρῷ καὶ σφόδρα περιχαρεῖ συμφαγὼν σὺν αὐτοῖς εἰς ἣν παρέθηκεν τράπεζαν, ἐρωτᾶν μετὰ τὸ δεῖπνον ἄρχεται τοῦ Λογγίνου τί χρῄζουσιν. Οἱ δέ, ὅρκους παρ' αὐτοῦ ἀπαι τήσαντες ὅτιπερ αὐτῶν οὐ 2 δημοσιεύει τὸν λόγον οὐδὲ γυμνοῖ τὸ θαρρηθὲν μυστήριον, τότε τὰ πρὸς Πιλᾶτον γραφέντα ἀπὸ Καίσαρος λέγουσιν καὶ ὅτι τοῦ Λογγίνου μεθ' ἑτέρων δύο τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀπήντησαν τεμεῖν. Ὁ δὲ καὶ οὗτοι τίνες εἶεν οἱ ἅμα τῷ Λογγίνῳ πυθόμενος, ἔγνω μαθὼν ὡς ἐκεῖνοί γε ἦσαν οἱ τῆς ἰουδαϊκῆς μισθαρνίας τὸν Χριστὸν προτιμήσαντες, καὶ σπουδῇ πολλῇ γράφει πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸ τάχος ἥκειν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀγαθῶν μεγάλων αὐτῷ κοινωνήσοντας. Ἡμέραν τε οὕτω μίαν καὶ δευ τέραν ξενίσας αὐτοὺς ὁ Λογγῖνος, τῇ τρίτῃ παραλαβὼν εἰς ἀγρόν, ἐκεῖ τοὺς παρ' αὐτοῦ μετασταλέντας ἀνέμενεν. Ἐγγὺς δὲ εἶναι μαθὼν ἀπαγγέλλει αὐτοῖς ὡς αὐτὸς εἴη ὁ Λογγῖνος, ὁ παρ' αὐτῶν ζητούμενος. 8 Οἱ δὲ πρότερον μὲν ἠπίστουν, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο πεισθέντες ἐ δάκρυον, τίλλοντες τὰς ἑαυτῶν τρίχας καὶ οἰκτρὰς φωνὰς πρὸς τὸν Λογγῖνον φθεγγόμενοι· «Τί σοι τὸ ἐγχείρημα, ὦ φίλε, ἔδοξεν τοῦτο; Ἵνα τί τοὺς ἐπὶ τὸν σὸν ἐλθόντας φόνον εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου ἔλαβες; Τίνος χάριν τοῖς εἰς σφαγήν σου παραγενο μένοις δεῖπνον
Martyrdom of Longinus§3
3You have prepared and set a table for me, not just for one day, but also for a second and third day.
Have you not seen in your blood, which is sought by us, the wine?
Now, what is there to say or do about you?
Depart, having received the reward of hospitality, which is the forgiveness of our death, for we do not dare to put the sword to you, we become numb, we blush at the table, we fear God, the guardian of hospitality, and we are also red with shame at the table.
It is better for us to risk our lives with Pilate, plotting against Longinus' head, than to melt our conscience and dine with the so-called bloodthirsty demons; how can our dinner be good if we bring our hands against you?
For if we do this, our hands, feet, and entire body will become numb, if we become murderers of our benefactor and host.
They were saying these things to Longinus, but they were not persuading the willing and courageous athlete to abandon the contest for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Longinus responded boldly to them, saying, 'Do not think me a traitor to life, nor a tempter of grace; may I not become a wolf in sheep's clothing; in no way will I deny what I once confessed.'
May I not lose that glory which I saw the elements trembling at, for I have witnessed the heaven covering its own appearances and the sun veiling the chariots of the lamps, the stadium of the days of light was abandoned, and night was forcibly drawn, because the weight of the cross was not endured and the blame of the Jewish god-fighting was abandoned.
How then will I scatter the wealth of so many goods given to me?
Not even the reproaches of angels will I endure.
As Longinus was still speaking, the cohort of soldiers who had been assigned to execute him arrived, having received the death sentence from Caesar.
With a cheerful face and a joyful heart, Longinus met them and kissed their eyes and neck, saying to them, 'Rejoice, fellow soldiers of Christ, conquerors of the divine contests, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven, for the gate to heaven is opening for us, and angels will receive our souls and offer them to the only-begotten Son of God.'
Behold, I see the lamps and I gaze at the crowns and I consider the prizes with which we will stand at the judgment seat of the bridegroom.
Having said these things, Longinus said to the executioners, 'If you have been ordered, make haste.'
And to the ruler of his house, he said to bring a clean robe to him, as for a wedding and a called nuptial.
Having clothed himself in the clean robe, Longinus showed with his hand the place where his blessed body was to be laid, and bending his knee, he rejoiced greatly, for he had struggled through the victorious contest with his companions.
Then, his head was cut off, and he was enrolled among the choirs of apostles and martyrs, for he had shown the courage of the former and the good zeal of the latter.
The executioners took Longinus' head and offered it to Pilate, who had received money from the Jews and was doing them a favor.
When Longinus' head was brought to Jerusalem, Pilate ordered it to be shown to the Jews who thirsted for Longinus' death, and he sold the drama of the execution for a large amount of gold to those who were accustomed to buying the blood of the righteous.
Then, Pilate ordered Longinus' precious and fearful head to be thrown away outside the gate of the city, where it lay like an untouchable treasure, preserved unharmed despite the filth that surrounded it.
A widow from the Cappadocian region, having cast away the eyes of her body, overcame her physical limitations by faith, and with her only child, she traveled to Jerusalem, where she hoped to regain her sight by venerating the holy places.
As she was led by her child, she would gather the dust of the earth and examine it with her own eyes.
Greek · §3
ἐπετέλεσας καὶ παρέθηκας τράπεζαν, οὐ μίαν μόνον ἡμέραν, ἀλλὰ καὶ δευτέραν καὶ τρίτην; Ἆρά σου τὸν οἶ νον οὐχ ἑώρας ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου τῷ παρ' ἡμῶν ζητουμένῳ κιρ νώμενον; Νῦν μὲν τί δεῖ εἰπεῖν; Τί δὲ πρᾶξαι ἢ βουλεύσασθαι περὶ σοῦ δυνησόμεθα; Ἄπιθι, μισθὸν τῆς ξενίας λαβὼν τοῦ παρ' ἡ μῶν θανάτου τὴν ἄφεσιν· ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἐπιθεῖναί σοι τὸ ξίφος οὐ τολμῶμεν, ναρκῶμεν τοὺς ἅλας, ἐρυθριῶμεν τὴν τράπεζαν, δεδοίκαμεν τὸν θεόν, τὸν τῆς ξενίας ἔφορον. Κρεῖττον ἡμᾶς κινδυνεύειν παρὰ Πιλάτου τὴν Λογγίνου κεφαλὴν μεθοδεύον τας, οὐχὶ δὲ πάντα τὸν βίον ἡμῶν τῷ συνειδότι τήκεσθαι καὶ συνδειπνοῦντας ὁρᾶν τοὺς λεγομένους αἱμοχαρεῖς δαίμονας. Πῶς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἔσται δεῖπνον ἀγαθὸν ἐάν σοι τὰς χεῖρας ἐπε νέγκωμεν; Ναρκῶσιν γὰρ ἡμῶν οὐ μόνον αἱ χεῖρες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ πόδες καὶ ἅπαν ἡμῶν τὸ σῶμα, ἐὰν τοῦτο πράξωμεν, ἐὰν φο νευταὶ τοῦ εὐεργέτου καὶ ξενοδόχου γενώμεθα.» 9 Ταῦτα μὲν αὐτοὶ πρὸς τὸν Λογγῖνον ἔλεγον. Οὐ μὴν δὲ ἔ πειθον τὸν πρόθυμον καὶ εὔψυχον ἀθλητὴν τὸν ἀγῶνα ὑπὲρ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ παραιτήσασθαι, ἀλλὰ πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὐθαρσῶς ἀποκρίνεται· «Μή με», λέγων, «προδότην τῆς ζωῆς ὀφθῆναι θελήσητε, μηδὲ πειραστὴν ἀποδειχθῆναι τῆς χάριτος. Μηδὲ λύκος τὴν τῶν προβάτων ἐκλογὴν ἀποδυσάμε νος γένωμαι· μηδαμῶς ἀρνήσωμαι ὃν ἅπαξ ὡμολόγησα. Μὴ ζημιωθῶ τὴν δόξαν ἐκείνην ἣν εἶδον τὰ στοιχεῖα σαλεύουσαν. Μή μου κατήγορος ὁ δῆμος τῆς κτίσεως γένηται, ὅτιπερ τοῦτον παρέβην δι' ὃν ὁ οὐρανὸς τὰς οἰκείας ὄψεις ἐκάλυψεν καὶ ἔδυσεν ὁ ἥλιος τὰ τῶν λαμπάδων ἅρματα, τὸ στάδιον αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ φωτὸς παρῃτήσαντο, ἡ νὺξ πρὸς βίαν εἵλκετο· τοῦ σταυροῦ γὰρ τὸ βάρος οὐχ ὑφίστατο καὶ τῆς ἰουδαϊκῆς θεομαχίας παρῃ τεῖτο τὸ ἔγκλημα. Ταῦτα ἐγὼ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου καὶ ταῖς οἰ κείαις ὄψεσιν ἱστόρησα. Πῶς τοίνυν σκορπίσω τοσούτων μοι ἀγαθῶν πλοῦτον; Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀγγέλων τὰς μέμψεις ὑποστήσο μαι.» 10 Ἔτι δὲ λαλοῦντος ταῦτα τοῦ Λογγίνου, ἡ ξυνωρὶς τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ στρατιωτῶν, ἡ τὴν ἐπὶ θάνατον ψῆφον παρὰ Καίσα ρος λαχοῦσα, ἔφθασεν. Φαιδρῷ δὲ αὐτοῖς προσώπῳ καὶ περι χαρεῖ λίαν ὁ Λογγῖνος συνήντησεν καί, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἅμα καὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν καταφιλήσας, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτούς· «Χαί ρετε, ὦ συστρατιῶται Χριστοῦ καὶ νικηταὶ τῶν θείων ἀγώνων καὶ κληρονόμοι τῆς βασιλείας οὐρανῶν, χαίρετε ὅτι ἡ πύλη ἡμῖν πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἀνέῳγεν, ἄγγελοι τὰς ἡμετέρας ψυχὰς πα ραλαμβάνειν καὶ προσφέρειν τῷ μονογενεῖ Υἱῷ τοῦ θεοῦ μέλ λουσιν. Ἰδοὺ τὰς λαμπάδας ὁρῶ καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους κατο πτεύω καὶ τὰ βραβεῖα στοχάζομαι μεθ' ὧν τῷ τοῦ νυμφίου πα ραστησόμεθα βήματι.» Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπών, ἔφη τοῖς δημίοις· «Εἴ τι οὖν προσετάχθητε, τάχος ποιήσατε.» Καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἡ γούμενον τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἔφησεν στολὴν καθαρὰν κομίσαι αὐ τῷ, ὡς ἐπὶ γάμον καὶ νυμφῶνα καλουμένῳ. 3 Ἐνδυσάμενος δὲ αὐτὴν καὶ τῇ χειρὶ δείξας τὸν λόφον, ἐν ᾧ τὸ μακάριον αὐτοῦ σῶμα διετάξατο τεθῆναι, οὕτω τε τὸ γόνυ κάμψας χαίρων λίαν, καὶ σχηματίσας ἑαυτὸν μετὰ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ ἑταίρων τῶν τὸν νικηφόρον ἀγῶνα διανυσάντων, τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐκτέμνεται καὶ χο ροῖς ἀποστόλων τε καὶ μαρτύρων ἐγγράφονται· τούτων γὰρ τὴν ἀνδρείαν καὶ ἐκείνων τὸν καλὸν ζῆλον ἐπεδείξαντο. 11 Λαβόντες δὲ οἱ δήμιοι τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Λογγίνου ταύτην προσφέρουσιν τῷ Πιλάτῳ· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς χάριν τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ περὶ ὧν ἔλαβεν χρημάτων τοῦτο πεποίηκεν. Ὡς δὲ ἤνεγκαν οἱ δήμιοι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἁγίου, προστάσσει ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἐπιδειχθῆναι αὐτὴν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, τοῖς διψῶσιν τὸν θάνατον Λογγίνου, καὶ πολλοῦ χρυσίου τὸ δρᾶμα πωλήσας τοῖς εἰωθόσι χρήμασιν ὠνεῖσθαι τὰ τῶν δικαίων αἵ ματα. Τότε ῥιφῆναι τὴν τιμίαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ φοβερὰν τοῖς δαί μοσι, τοῖς δὲ ἀγγέλοις ἐπέραστον καὶ στοιχείοις θαυμαζομένην κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Λογγίνου προστάττει ὁ Πιλᾶτος ἔξω πρὸ τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως. Ἔκειτο τοίνυν πρὸ τῆς πύλης ὥσπερ τις θησαυρὸς ἄσυλος· κόπρου δὲ πλείστης οὔσης ἐκεῖσε, ἀβλαβὴς δι εφυλάχθη ὁ πολυτίμητος τοῦ Χριστοῦ μαργαρίτης, καὶ τάφος αὐ τῷ τέως μᾶλλον δὲ κιβωτὸς ἡ κόπρος ἦν, μακροθυμοῦντος τοῦ φιλανθρώπου θεοῦ καὶ ἐν τούτῳ οἰκονομίας χάριν. 12 Χήρα γάρ τις γυνὴ τῆς αὐτῆς τῶν Καππαδοκῶν χώρας, μονογενοῦς τέκνου μήτηρ, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ σώματος ἀπο βαλοῦσα, πίστει τὸ πάθος νικήσασα, μετὰ τοῦ μονογενοῦς τέκ νου τὴν Ἰερουσαλὴμ κατέλαβεν, ἐνθάδε προσδοκῶσα τῇ προσκυ νήσει τῶν ἁγίων τόπων τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἀπολαβεῖν. Ὡς οὖν χειραγωγουμένη ὑπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου τέκνου συνῆγεν τὸν χοῦν τῆς γῆς καὶ τοῖς ἰδίοις ὀφθαλμοῖς ἐσκέπτετο
Consolation in Faith§4
4...She hoped to soothe him, perhaps seeking to find the eye-salve in him to recover his sight, but a severe illness suddenly struck him, and he was taken from her motherly hands.
Her darkness was then doubled, and she was overwhelmed by the bitter pain of her misfortune and unceasing grief.
She cried out to God, asking how long he would neglect her until the end, and if she was being punished for her sins.
She said, 'Am I not worse than the prostitute whom I welcomed with myrrh for you?'
She continued, 'You have deprived me of both the light and my only son; and for me, there is no longer any hope of salvation.'
Longinus, the centurion who had confessed Jesus as the Son of God, appeared to her in a dream.
He told her about his own beheading and the fate of his body, which had been thrown outside the city by the Jews who had bought it through lying accusations against him.
Then I will present to you the child with glory, who will comfort your sorrow.
The woman was comforted by these words, and with newfound bravery and faith, she hastened to the task at hand.
Having learned from her faithful guides that a mound of dung had been heaped up in that place, she hastened to the place where they had led her and began to dig with her own hands.
By God's providence, she quickly uncovered the precious head, and immediately she saw the sun's rays.
Having wrapped and washed it with all haste and anointed it with precious oils, she returned carrying the pearl to where she had lodged.
The next night, the blessed Longinus appeared to her, holding her son by his side, shining and smiling, and dressed like a bridegroom.
Longinus spoke to the woman, saying, 'Behold, the one you have longed for is here. This is the one you thought was snatched from your hands. But God, having freed him, has enlisted him in the kingdom above. And now I have him with me; for I received him from the Savior, and he will never depart from my right hand. Having taken my head and your child's body, place them in one coffin, and no longer mourn your only child.'
For to him with me great glory has been given, and a holy altar and secret sacrifices and much-praised choirs and all-popular festivals, and many other things besides these which cannot be performed on earth, but in heaven, 'what eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man' (1 Corinthians 2:9), which things God, having shown us his love towards us in deed and word, has prepared.
The mother of the young man received these words as prophetic commands and immediately rose to return to her homeland.
She took the all-honored and holy head and restored it to her own homeland, and she laid her child's relic beside the holy Longinus' shrine with joy and delight, just as the holy Longinus had commanded her.
As she did so, she proclaimed in her heart and with her tongue, knowing that to those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).
I was seeking eyes of flesh, but with them I also received the eyes of the spirit; I see the young man wearing purple, I gaze at the handsome youth; the child is star-faced and smiling at his mother and shining like a star beside Longinus' side, like the morning star beside the sun's ray, appearing many times at night and many times during the day, and not only in dreams, but also manifestly appearing to me in a manner of witnesses.
His lot is with prophets, although not having lived the life of prophets, and with Longinus he crusades, and the noble trophy of the heavenly kingdom is borne, and among angels he preaches, and in the midst of the crowd of archangels he cries out as a disciple of Longinus.
Greek · §4
καταπλάσα σθαι τοῦτον, ἴσως ἐν αὐτῷ εὑρίσκειν προσδοκῶσα τοῦ φωτὸς τὸ κολλύριον πρὸς τὸ ἀναβλέψαι, ἀθρόον δὲ νόσος ἐπῆλθεν τῷ μονογενεῖ αὐτῆς υἱῷ καὶ ἐκ τῶν μητρικῶν χειρῶν αὐτὸν ἀφήρ πασεν, τότε διπλοῦν αὐτῇ τὸ σκότος τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐπῆλθεν καὶ ἀπεσβέννυτο τῷ δριμυτάτῳ πάθει τῆς συμφορᾶς. Ἡ δὲ οἰκ τρὰς φωνὰς βοῶσα πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἔλεγεν· «Ἕως πότε, κύριε, ἐπιλήσῃ μου εἰς τέλος; καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. Μὴ μόνη ἐγώ», φησίν, «ἁμαρτωλὸς τυγχάνω, ὅτι τὰς δίκας οὕτω δριμυτάτως εἰσπράτ τομαι; Μὴ χείρων εἰμὶ τῆς πόρνης ἣν προσεδέξω μύρον σοι προσκομίζουσαν; Ἐμὲ δὲ καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐστέρησας καὶ τὸν μονο γενῆ μου ἔλαβες· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μοί ποθεν ἐλπὶς σωτηρίας». 13 Ὡς δὲ ἦν ἐν πολλῇ θλίψει καὶ ἀπαραμυθήτῳ πένθει, φαί νεται αὐτῇ καθ' ὕπνον ὁ μακάριος Λογγῖνος καὶ πάντα αὐτῇ τὰ καθ' ἑαυτὸν διηγήσατο· «Ἐγώ εἰμι», λέγων, «Λογγῖνος ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος, ὁ ὁμολογήσας ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὸν κύριον ἡ μῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ὅτι «ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος.» Ὅθεν ἀποκαλύπτω σοι καὶ ὅπως Πιλᾶτος κατ' ἐμοῦ ψευδῆ δη μηγορήσας ἐρεθίζει τὸν Καίσαρα καὶ ἀποτέμνει μου τὴν κεφα λὴν καὶ ἐνταῦθα κομίζει καὶ ῥίπτει ἔξω τῆς πόλεως· Ἰουδαί ων γὰρ παῖδες χρημάτων ὠνῇ καὶ τούτῳ συνεφώνησαν. Κό προς δὲ πλείστη ἐπ' αὐτῇ σεσώρευται, ὥστε σοι ἔδει φυλαχθῆ ναι τὸν κλῆρον τοῦτον πρὸς ἰατρείαν· ἅμα γὰρ αὐτὴν ἀνακαλύ ψεις, τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου ἀπολήψει· εἶθ' οὕτως παραστήσω δέ σοι καὶ τὸν παῖδα μετὰ δόξης, ὅστις σου τὸ πένθος παρακαλέ σει.» 14 Τούτοις δὲ τοῖς λόγοις παρακληθεῖσα ἡ γυνή, ὁμοῦ καὶ νευρωθεῖσα ὡς ἀνδρεία καὶ πιστή, πρὸς τὸ ἔργον ἠπείγετο, χειρ αγωγηθεῖσα πρὸς τὸν χῶρον ἐν ᾧ κόπρον σωρευθῆναι ἐμάνθανε παρὰ τῶν αὐτὴν ὁδηγούντων καὶ αὐτῶν πιστῶν ὄντων· ἤδη δὲ φθασάντων εἰς τὸν προκείμενον τόπον, ἄρχεται ὀρύγειν ταῖς ἰ δίαις χερσίν· προνοίᾳ δὲ θεοῦ τάχιον εὑροῦσα τὴν τιμίαν τῷ θεῷ κεφαλήν, παραχρῆμα τὰς ἡλιακὰς ἀκτῖνας ἐθεάσατο. Περι πτυξαμένη δὲ καὶ πλύνασα μετὰ πάσης σπουδῆς καὶ μύροις ἐν τίμοις ἐπαλείψασα, ἐπανέρχεται φέρουσα τὸν μαργαρίτην ἔνθα ἐξενίζετο. 4 Πάλιν δὲ τῇ ἐπιούσῃ νυκτὶ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῇ ὁ μακά ριος Λογγῖνος ἔχων τὸν αὐτῆς υἱὸν παρὰ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πλευράν, λαμπρὸν καὶ μειδιῶντα καὶ ὥσπερ νυμφίου στολὴν ἔχοντα, λέ γει· «Ἰδὲ ὃν ἐπόθεις, ὦ γύναι. Οὗτός ἐστιν ὃν ἁρπασθῆναι τῶν σῶν χειρῶν ἐνόμισας. Θεὸς δὲ αὐτὸν ἐλευθερώσας εἰς τὴν ἄνω βασιλείαν ἐστράτευσεν. Καὶ νῦν σὺν ἐμοὶ ἔχω αὐτόν· παρὰ γὰρ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἔλαβον αὐτὸν καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς δεξιᾶς οὐδέποτε ἀπο στήσεται. Λαβοῦσα τοίνυν τὴν ἐμὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τοῦ σοῦ παι δὸς τὸ σῶμα, ἐν μιᾷ λάρνακι παράδος καὶ μηκέτι τὸν μονογενῆ σου δάκρυε· μεγάλη γὰρ αὐτῷ σὺν ἐμοὶ δόξα δεδώρηται καὶ βωμὸς ἱερὸς καὶ θυσίαι μυστικαὶ καὶ πολυύμνητοι χορεῖαι καὶ πανηγύρεις πάνδημοι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ πρὸς τούτοις ἃ οὐ δυνατὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τελεῖσθαι, ἐν οὐρανῷ δὲ «ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη», ἅπερ ἡμῖν ὁ θεός, ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐνδειξάμενος ἀγάπην, παρεσκεύασεν.» 15 Τούτους τοὺς λόγους ἡ τοῦ νεανίσκου μήτηρ ὡς ἱεροπροφήτου δεξαμένη προστάγματα, εὐθέως ἀναστᾶσα εἰς τὴν πατρίδα ὥρμησεν. Ἔλαβεν δὲ τὴν πάντιμον καὶ ἱερὰν κεφαλήν, καὶ ἀπεκατέστησε τῇ ἰδίᾳ πατρίδι, καὶ τὸν αὐτῆς παῖδα παρὰ τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ ἁγίου Λογγίνου λείψανον ἀπέθετο φαιδρῶς καὶ περιχαρῶς, καθὼς αὐτῇ προσέταξεν ὁ ἅγιος Λογγῖνος, ἐν κώμῃ λεγομένῃ Σανδράλις–ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ ἦν ὁ ἅγιος Λογγῖνος–, πρὸς ἑαυτὴν ἀναφωνοῦσα καὶ λέγουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ τῇ γλώττῃ κηρύττουσα· «Οἴδαμεν ὅτι τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι τὸν θεὸν πάντα συνεργεῖ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. Ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐζήτουν σαρκός, σὺν αὐτοῖς δὲ καὶ τοὺς τοῦ πνεύματος ἔλαβον. Ἐλύπει με ζημία τέκνου, ἀλλ' ἰδοὺ τὸν κληρονόμον ἔχω μετὰ δόξης βασιλικῆς τῷ θεῷ παριστάμενον. Πορφυροφόρον τὸν νεανίαν ὁρῶ, πολυευπρεπῆ κατοπτεύω τὸν μείρακα. Ἀστεροπρόσωπος ὁ παῖς καὶ τῇ μητρὶ προσγελῶν καὶ παρὰ τὴν πλευρὰν Λογγίνου ἀστράπτων ὡς ἑωσφόρος παρὰ τὴν ἡλιακὴν ἀκτῖνα, πολλάκις μὲν νύκτωρ, πολλάκις δὲ μεθ' ἡμέραν φαινόμενος, καὶ οὐ κατ' ὄναρ μόνον, ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ φανερῶς ἐμφανίζεταί μοι μαρτύρων τρόπῳ. Κλῆρος δὲ αὐτοῦ μετὰ προφητῶν, καίτοι βίον τῶν προφητῶν οὐ ζήσαντος, καὶ μετὰ Λογγίνου σταυροφορεῖ, καὶ τὸ σεμνὸν τῆς τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείας ἐπιφέρεται τρόπαιον, καὶ μεταξὺ ἀγγέλων κηρύττει, καὶ μέσον τοῦ δήμου τῶν ἀρχαγγέλων κέκραγεν ὡς Λογγίνου μαθητὴς ὅσα
The Glory of Longinus§5
5The seraphim allow Longinus to glorify and the cherubim do not oppose him as he sings a hymn; he himself utters a sacred voice, a hymn-singer, a bearer of a trophy, mystical, and victorious: 'Truly this was the Son of God' (Matthew 27:54), which is before the ages, possesses, and will possess forever. He himself makes the ages old, yet he himself remains unchanged; for his kingdom is an eternal kingdom and his power will never be corrupted (Daniel 4:3), to him belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I, Hesychius, presbyter of Jerusalem, having researched much with much labor, was able to find the words of the holy Longinus the centurion, who was in charge of...
Greek · §5
τὰ σεραφὶμ Λογγίνῳ παραχωρεῖ δοξάζειν καὶ οὐκ ἀντικρούει τὰ χερουβὶμ ὑμνολογοῦντι, φθέγγεται καὶ αὐτὸς φωνὴν ἱεράν, ὑμνολόγον, τροπαιοῦχον, μυστικήν, ἐπινίκιον· «Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος» καὶ ἔστι καὶ ἔσται· ὅπερ ἐστὶ πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἔχει καὶ εἰς αἰῶνας ἕξει. Αὐτὸς παλαιοῖ τοὺς αἰῶνας, μένει δὲ αὐτὸς ἀπαλαίωτος· ἡ γὰρ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ βασιλεία αἰώνιος καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα οὐ διαφθαρήσεται· αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν». 16 Ἐγὼ Ἡσύχιος πρεσβύτερος Ἱεροσολύμων πολλὰ ἐρευνήσας μετὰ πολλοῦ καμάτου ἠδυνήθην εὑρεῖν τοῦ ἁγίου Λογγίνου τοῦ ἑκατοντάρχου, τοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ
Finding the Testimony§6
6I found the testimony of the cross of Christ, having said 'Truly this was the Son of God', in a scroll, in the library of the Holy Resurrection, and I arranged his confession together also with the hymn. Furthermore those fearing the Lord…
Greek · §6
σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰπόντος «Ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος», τὸ μαρτύριον· εὗρον δὲ αὐτὸ ἐν σχεδαρίῳ, ἐν τῇ βιβλιοθήκῃ τῆς ἁγίας Ἀναστάσεως, καὶ συνέταξα αὐτοῦ τὴν ὁμολογίαν μετὰ καὶ τοῦ ἐγκωμίου. Λοιπὸν οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν κύριον
Longinus' Intercession§7
7It should be believed that he is truly the holy Longinus, the centurion who confessed Christ on the cross, by whose intercession and consolation we are all preserved, both those who read and those who hear, in Christ.
Greek · §7
πιστωθήτωσαν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ ἅγιος Λογγῖνος ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος, ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁμολογήσας αὐτόν· οὗ τῇ πρεσβείᾳ καὶ παρακλήσει διαφυλαχθείημεν ἅπαντες, οἵ τε ἀναγινώσκοντες αὐτὸ καὶ οἱ ἀκούοντες, ἐν Χριστῷ
Doxology to Jesus§8
8To Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs the glory and the power and the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 6:13), now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Greek · §8
Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος καὶ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. 5