The Appearance of the Head of St . Longinus, the Soldier

On this day was the appearance of the head of St . Longinus the Soldier who pierced the side ofour Savior, when He was on the Cross . Emperor Tiberius Caesar sent a soldier to Cappadocia tocut off the head of this saint, as it is written in the 23rd day of the month of Abib . The soldierfulfilled the order and brought the head to Jerusalem, and handed it to Pontius Pilate . Pilateshowed the head to the Jews, who rejoiced at his deed . Pilate commanded that the head be buriedin some of the piles of dirt outside Jerusalem .There was a woman who had believed at the hands of St . Longinus when he preached inCappadocia . During his execution, she stood, weeping, and witnessed his martyrdom . Later onshe became blind . So, she took her son and departed to Jerusalem to be blessed by the holyplaces, and the holy sepulchre, hoping that she might regain her sight . When she arrived inJerusalem, her son died . She became very sad and grieved because of her condition and there wasno one to take her back to her own country .During her sleep she saw St . Longinus, and with him, was her son who had died . He directed herto whereabout his head was buried and ordered her to remove it . When she woke up, she lookedfor the place until she found it . She dug in the ground and a sweet aroma of incense came out .85When she reached the head of the saint, a great light shone from it and straightaway her eyes wereopened and she was able to see .She glorified the Lord Christ, kissed the head, perfumed it, and placed it with the body of her son .Then she returned to her own country glorifying the Lord Christ Who performed wondersthrough His saints .The prayers of this saint be with us . Amen