Image: Wikimedia Commons

Longinus

Roman soldier, and saint, who pierced the side of Jesus

PersonhumanQ319947

Born: 1st century
Died: 1st century
Birthplace: Lanciano
Place of death: Mantua
Citizenship: Kingdom of Cappadocia
, Ancient Rome
Occupation: military personnel
, writer
1
Sources
1.Stated in Library of the World's Best Literature
View statement on Wikidata ↗

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Longinus is the name given to the unknown Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance, who in medieval and some modern Christian traditions is described as a convert to Christianity. His name first appeared in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. The lance is called in Catholic Christianity the "Holy Lance" (lancea) and the story is related in the Gospel of John during the Crucifixion. This act is said to have created the last of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ.

Overview

Named after them

2 linked to Longinus in Wikidata

All data

70 statements · 21% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Sex or gender: male
2
Sources
1.Stated in Dictionary of African Biography
2.Stated in BeWeBRetrieved 2021-02-12
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Canonization status: saint
1
Sources
1.Stated in Roman Martyrology (2004)
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Time period: Roman Empire
Cause of death: decapitation
Owner of: Holy Lance
Different from: Cassius Longinus
Floruit: 1st century
1
Sources
1.Stated in Czech National Authority DatabaseRetrieved 2022-06-08
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Feast day: October 16 statement supported by: Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
4
Sources
1.Stated in Roman Martyrology (2004)
2.Stated in santiebeati.itRetrieved 2024-04-12
3.Stated in Heiligen.netRetrieved 2024-10-17
4.Stated in Orthodox EncyclopediaRetrieved 2024-10-17
View statement on Wikidata ↗
March 15 statement supported by: Catholic Church
4
Sources
1.Stated in Clavis ClaviumRetrieved 2024-10-17
2.Stated in Heiligen.netRetrieved 2024-10-17
3.Stated in Orthodox EncyclopediaRetrieved 2024-10-17
4.Stated in Ökumenisches HeiligenlexikonRetrieved 2024-10-17
View statement on Wikidata ↗
October 22 statement supported by: Armenian Apostolic Church
November 14 statement supported by: Coptic Orthodox Church
Depicted by: Montepulciano Prison Chapel Altarpiece
Military unit: Legio X Fretensis sourcing circumstances: probably
Military, police or special rank: centurion
1
Sources
1.Stated in Matthew 15
View statement on Wikidata ↗

On other databases

47 identifiers linking Longinus across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

21%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 19, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Longinus (Q319947). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/longinus-Q319947