Laudatio Longinii, auctor Pseudo-Hesychius Hierosolymitanus
Standard abbreviation: Encom. Longin.
Other titles: Homily 20
Clavis numbers: ECCA 333
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Martyrdom of Longinus, by Pseudo-Hesychius of Jerusalem; Martyrdom of Longinus the Centurion, by Symeon Metaphrastes; Passion of Longinus
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Encomium on Longinus, by Pseudo-Hesychius of Jerusalem.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/encomium-on-longinus-by-pseudo-hesychius-of-jerusalem/.
Created February 2025.
1. SUMMARY
Longinus, said to be among the first of the holy martyrs along with John the Baptist and Stephen, is sent by Herod the Great to accompany the Magi in their quest to see the newborn king. On his way, he sees a great light and a voice tells him that he will be made a centurion of the holy martyrs. Longinus arrives in Bethlehem and worships Jesus. Upon returning, he tells Herod that the infant is the Son of God and king and redeemer of the world; he reveals also his vision on the road and of seeing the heavens opened in Bethlehem and angels venerating Jesus. Herod offers Longinus half his kingdom to deliver the infant into his hands, but Longinus refuses, so Herod orders him stripped of his armour and weapon and thrown in a dungeon.
In the meantime, Herod orders the slaughter of the infants. Then he summons Longinus once more and is surprised to see that he has regained his armour and sword. Longinus says that it was given to him by an angel sent from Christ. Herod orders him to be stripped again but the soldiers are unable to grab his dress and weapon. Longinus returns to the dungeon where he is placed in heavy shackles. After 30 days Longinus remains unharmed. Angered, Herod kills the jailers and orders Longinus to be whipped. In answer to Longinus’s prayer for relief, a great earthquake shakes the prison, freeing him and 1000 prisoners. Herod sends instructions to pagan nations to bring Longinus to Jerusalem in chains, but he is able to invisibly move about the city.
When Herod dies, Archelaus comes to power and reinstates Longinus in his rank under the name Primianos. In the course of his duties, he witnesses the miracles of Jesus. Over time, Jesus is arrested and sent to Golgotha for crucifixion. Longinus accompanies him and sees the wonders at the cross, declaring Jesus to be the Son of God. Suddenly, the other soldiers fall asleep and Jesus says to Longinus, “Today you were born, and you will be remembered until the last days.” Longinus tells Jesus he will leave the city. Jesus instructs him to make the sign of the cross on his forehead and later he will baptize him with blood. Longinus returns to his homeland in Cappadocia: a city called Andrales, near Tyana. There he becomes a sheepherder and preaches about Christ.
Here the text takes over material from the earlier Martyrdom of Longinus. Herod (Agrippa?) learns about Longinus’s preaching activities and sends soldiers to kill him. The soldiers meet Longinus but do not know who he is. Longinus invites them into his home and after a few days, reveals that he is the one they seek. Not wanting to be inhospitable, the soldiers say they will petition the king for his life and will die with him if need be. But Longinus willingly accepts martyrdom. The soldiers take his head to Jerusalem to prove that they have carried out their orders. The head is kept in the house of the Governor Lucius.
A widow from Cappadocia named Chreste, seeking relief from the torment of a spirit, comes to Jerusalem hoping to find Jesus. Longinus appears to her in a dream promising her healing if she retrieves his head from Lucius and reunites it with his body. He says also that he will enrol her son Chrestion in his militia. Chrestes obtains the head and three angels bring her and her son to Cappadocia where they place the head with Longinus’s body. Longinus appears again the next night, tells Chrestes she will now be healed and asks her if she wants her son enrolled in the earthly or heavenly militia. She says heavenly. The following day he appears to Chrestion, asks the same question and receives the same answer. The young man dies, but an angel comes to Chrestes and tells her that Chrestion is now in the bosom of Jesus. She is told to bury him in the tomb of Longinus and in three days she will have a vision of him marching in the heavenly militia. Paphnutius, bishop of Tyana, buries Chrestion near Longinus and his mother becomes a deaconess, spending her days at the oratory, praying and healing. When she dies she is placed with her son.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Archelaus, Chrestes, Chrestion, Herod Agrippa, Herod Antipas, Herod (the Great), Herodias, John (the Baptist), Longinus (centurion), Lucius (governor), Magi, Paphnutius, Philip (tetrarch), Pontius Pilate, Stephen, Tiberius (emperor).
Geographical Locations: Andrales, Antioch, Bethlehem, Cappadocia, Galilee, Illyria, Jerusalem, Judea, Rome, Tyana.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources
“E06103: Encomium on Longinos.” Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity. Entry compiled by Efthymios Rizos.
“Longinus.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Greek (BHG 990; CPG 6590)
B Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, IV.459, fols. 68, 78, 76, 13v (8th/9th cent.) ~ palimpsest; Pinakes
V Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, gr. 797, fols. 214v–225v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Aubineau, Michel. Les homélies festales d’Hésychius de Jérusalem II: les homélies XVI–XXI. Subsidia Hagiographica 59. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1980 (introduction, pp. 845–71; text and translation based on B and V, pp. 872–901).
Bolland, Jean et al., eds. Acta Sanctorum, Martii. Vol. 2. 2nd. ed. Paris: V. Palmé, 1868 (chs. 23–30 from V, pp. 930–31).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 French
Aubineau, Michel. Les homélies festales d’Hésychius de Jérusalem II: les homélies XVI–XXI. Subsidia Hagiographica 59. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1980 (translation, pp. 872–901).
3.2.2 Italian
Orsola, Gianluca. San Longino nella tradizione greca e latina di età tardoantica: analisi, commento delle fonti e contesto agiografico. Perugia: Graphe.it, 2008 (translation of the Greek text, pp. 101–12). 2nd revised ed.: Longino, il santo della lancia. Perugia: Graphe.it, 2017.
3.2.3 Latin
Bolland, Jean et al., eds. Acta Sanctorum, Martii. Vol. 2. 2nd. ed. Paris: V. Palmé, 1868 (translation of chs. 23–30 from V, pp. 383–84).
3.3 General Works
Peebles, Rose Jeffries. The Legend of Longinus in Ecclesiastical Tradition and in English Literature. Baltimore: Furst, 1911 (esp. 18-20).