Images: Wikimedia Commons
Clavis number: ECMA 189
Other descriptors: none
Location: Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Category: decoration
Related Literature: Passion of Longinus
Featured characters and locations: Aphrodisius, Golgotha, John (son of Zebedee), Longinus (centurion), Mary (Virgin), Mary Magdalene, Octavius, Salome.
1. DESCRIPTION
Material: paint on canvas
Size: not specified
Date: not provided
Provenance: in situ
The chapel is from the rest of the church by a low barrier bearing an inscription based on Mark 15:39: Ο ΔΕ ΚΕΝΤΥΡΙΟΝ ΕΙΠΕΝ ΑΛΗΘΩΣ | ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΟΥΤΟΣ ΥΙΟΣ ΗΝ ΘΕΟΥ (Now the centurion said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”).
At the rear of the chapel is a triptych. From left to right: a soldier with a spear stands with a crowd of other soldiers. The centre panel is a crucifixion scene with Jesus between two bandits before a crowd of onlookers, including John, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome (all labelled), as well as Longinus and the soldier holding the reed bearing the wine and vinegar. The third panel depicts Longinus kneeling with executioner standing above him with sword at his throat; on the right, a man (Octavius? Aphrodisius?) holds the head of Longinus.
Beneath the triptych is an altar inscribed with a portion of Matthew 27:54: Ο ΔΕ ΕΚΑΤΟΝΤΑΡΧΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΜΕΤ ΑΥΤΟΥ (front), ΙΔΟΝΤΕΣ ΤΑ ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΑ (side) (Now the centurion and those with him, saw the things that took place).
Additional images: Wikimedia Commons
2. RELATION TO APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE
In the Latin Passion of Longinus, the soldier at the cross who pierces Jesus with a spear and confesses him to be the Son of God is identified as Longinus, a name first attached to this figure in Gospel of Nicodemus 10 and 16. A different account of his fate is given also in an epilogue to the Epistle of Herod to Pilate; here he is taken by an angel to a cave across the Jordan where he is attacked every night by a lion and then made whole again. In Pass. Longin., the centurion is martyred at the orders of Octavius, the chief official of Cappadocia. First, Longinus’ tongue is cut off, but he is still able to speak. Aphrodisius, a secretary of the court, comes to Longinus’ defence only to have his tongue cut off also, but when this happens, Octavius is struck blind. Octavius asks Aphrodisius to intervene with Longinus on his behalf. Longinus tells Octavius to complete his martyrdom so that he can petition God for him directly. Longinus is decapitated and Octavius becomes a believer.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
“Church of the Holy Sepulchre.” Wikipedia.
Entry created by Tony Burke, York University, 9 February 2025.