Longinus was a Roman soldier, often identified as a centurion, who is traditionally credited with piercing the side of Jesus with a lance during the crucifixion. While the canonical Gospels do not name the soldier, the name Longinus originates from apocryphal texts such as the Gospel of Nicodemus. In many Christian traditions, he is remembered as a convert to the faith, sometimes described as having been healed of blindness by the blood of Christ. He is honored as a saint in several Christian denominations, including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches.