Martyrium Longini, auctor Pseudo-Hesychius Hierosolymitanus
Standard abbreviation: Mart. Longin.
Other titles: Homily 19
Clavis numbers: ECCA 332
Category: Apocryphal Acts
Related literature: Encomium on Longinus, by Pseudo-Hesychius of Jerusalem; Martyrdom of Longinus the Centurion, by Symeon Metaphrastes
Compiled by: Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Martyrdom of Longinus, by Pseudo-Hesychius of Jerusalem.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/martyrdom-of-longinus-by-pseudo-hesychius-of-jerusalem/.
Created February 2025.
1. SUMMARY
Mart. Long. is attributed to Hesychius in a postscript. He writes that he found an account of Longinus in the library of Saint Anastasis and used it to write his text. The story begins at the crucifixion. Everyone who was healed by Jesus and his apostles have abandoned him but not Longinus; he is the only one who confesses Christ’s divinity, declaring that he is truly God’s Son (Mark 15:39 par.). He is also a man of honor, refusing to accept money from the Jewish leaders and Pilate to deny the truth of the resurrection. Along with two other soldiers, Longinus departs Jerusalem for Cappadocia. The author here likens Longinus to the apostles, each appointed a certain land to evangelize.
The Jewish leaders persuade Pilate to write to Caesar with lies against Longinus, saying he had thoughts against the empire and was proclaiming Jesus to be king to the nations. Caesar writes back with orders to behead Longinus and his companions. The executioners travel to Cappadocia where they meet Longinus but are not aware of his identity. Longinus has already been told by the Holy Spirit that he will be martyred, so he does not seek to hide. Instead, he brings the men to his home and entertains them for three days. When Longinus’ fellow soldiers arrive, he reveals his identity. But now the executioners do not want to carry out their orders, fearing the wrath of God for their inhospitality. Longinus begs them not to deprive him of the glory of martyrdom. He dresses in a fine robe, points to where he wishes to be buried, and is decapitated along with his companions.
The executioners bring Longinus’ head to Pilate. He shows it to the Jewish leaders to that he can receive a reward and then throws it out of the city gate onto a dung heap. Later it is found by a blind widow who had come to Jerusalem from Cappadocia to Jerusalem hoping to receive healing. Her son who accompanied her had fallen ill and died. She calls out to God for relief and Longinus appears to her in a dream promising the return of her eyesight and that she will see her son again if she retrieves his head. When she fulfills this task, her sight is restored and Longinus appears again to her accompanied by her son, now enlisted by God for the kingdom above. Longinus tells her to take his head and her son’s body to Sandralis. There she reunites Longinus’ head with his body and places her son’s body next to his.
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Hesychius, John (son of Zebedee), Longinus (centurion), Paul (apostle), Peter (apostle), Pontius Pilate, Thomas (apostle).
Geographical Locations: Asia, Cappadocia, Illyria, India, Jerusalem, Judea, Rome, Sandralis.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources
“E06102: Longinos/Longinus, centurion at the Crucifixion.” Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity. Entry compiled by Efthymios Rizos.
“Longinus.” Wikipedia.
2.2 Art and Iconography
Illustration of Cornelius in the Menologion of Basil II.
The Menologion of Basil II, Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1613, p. 117 (10th cent.)
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Church Slavic
Hannick, Christian. Maximos Holobolos in der kirchenslavischen homiletischen Literatur. Wiener byzantinistische Studien 14. Vienna, 1981 (p. 117, n. 57).
3.1.2 Greek
3.1.2.1 BHG 988, 988z; CPG 6589 (sigla from Aubineau 1980, pp. 805–809)
B Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1468, fols. 136r–140v (11th cent.)
C Cambridge, University Library, Add. 3574, fols. 228v–234v (11th/12th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Catalog
D Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1540, fols. 81r–87v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica
E Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Coislin 26, fols. 380r–381v (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica; fragment
F Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Coislin 110, fol. 35r (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Gallica; fragment
K Mount Athos, Monē Karakallou, 8 (Lambros 1521), fols. 74r–78r (10th/11th cent.) ~ Pinakes; Athos
O Ohrid, Naroden Muzej, gr. 76 (Inv. 4), pp. 416–425 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; images
P Mount Athos, Monē Pantokratoros, 40 (Lambros 1074), fols. 128v–132v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
V Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1190, fols. 117r–120r (1542) ~ used in AS Mart. II (1668), 736-739
Istanbul, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Agia Triados 100, fols. 28r–31v (11th cent.) ~ Pinakes
Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, IV.459 (8th/9th cent.) ~ palimpsest; text listed in contents but no longer extant; Pinakes
Additional Manuscripts:
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 519 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, 526 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; LOC
Aubineau, Michel. Les homélies festales d’Hésychius de Jérusalem II: les homélies XVI–XXI. Subsidia Hagiographica 59. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1980 (introduction, pp. 778–816; text and translation, pp. 817–44).
Bolland, Jean et al., eds. Acta Sanctorum, Martii. Vol. 2. 2nd. ed. Paris: V. Palmé, 1868 (text from Vat. gr. 1190, pp. 927–30).
Migne, Jacques Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 93. Paris: Cerf, 1865 (reproduction of edition from Acta Sanctorum, cols. 1545–60).
3.1.2.2 BHG 988abc (epitomes)
Jerusalem, Patriarchikē Bibliothēkē, Hagiou Saba 30, fols. 66r–66r (10th/11th cent.) ~ BHG 988a; Pinakes; LOC
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1611, fols. 165r–169v (1553) ~ BHG 988b; Pinakes; Gallica
Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 12 Inf. (gr. 839), fols. 60r–61r (12th cent.) ~ BHG 988c; Pinakes; Milan
3.1.2.3 Menologion of Basil II
Preliminary translation: October 16, the struggle of the holy martyr Longinus the centurion. Under Tiberius Caesar was a centurion from the region of Cappadocia, serving under Pilate, the prefect of Judaea, at whose command he ministered together with his soldiers to the precious passion and crucifixion of Christ. But when he had seen the miracles which took place when Christ was lifted up on the cross, namely, the earth moving, the sun’s corruption, the tombs being opened, the dead being raised, the rocks being rent, he cried out: “Truly this was the Son of God.” When the Jews discovered this, they bribed Pilate with money to write to Tiberius against Longinus. He commanded him to be beheaded, together with two of his fellow soldiers, and his head to be carried away to Jerusalem: which, having been thrown into the dunghill, was hidden for a long time, until a certain blind Cappadocian woman, divinely warned by sight, went to Jerusalem, found it, and regained her sight.
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. gr. 1613, p. 117 (10th cent.) ~ Pinakes; BAV
Migne, Jacques-Paul. Patrologiae cursus completus: Series graeca. Vol. 117. Paris: Cerf, 1903 (Greek text with facing Latin translation, cols. 111–12).
3.1.2.4 Synaxarion of Constantinople (16 October; summary similar to Menologion of Basil II); BHG 990e
Hippolyte Delehaye, Synaxarinum Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae e códice Sirmondiano, nunc Berolinensi adiectis synaxariis selectis. Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1902 (cols. 141–44).
3.1.3 Old Russian
Makarius. Octobr., Velikija Minei Četij sobrannyja vserossijskim mitropolitom Makariem. St. Petersburg, 1868 (cols. 1048–1057)
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 (text and translation, pp. 817–44).
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. 99–100). 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, pp. 380–83).
3.3 General Works
Peebles, Rose Jeffries. The Legend of Longinus in Ecclesiastical Tradition and in English Literature. Baltimore: Furst, 1911 (esp. 18–20).