51
T H E SH R I N E O F Š I LU VA
Fig. 11. Tomas Podgaiskis. The altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 1786. Stonework, stucco. Photo by R. Valinčiūtė-Varnė.
Christ. From the left side, standing by the column an outside statue depicts St. Longinus, the centurion of Roman soldiers who pierced with a spear the side of the crucified Jesus27. This is evidenced in the Gospel of John: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19: 34). Furthermore,
St. Longinus is considered to be the centurion who present at the death of Jesus uttered: “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27: 54). In fact, the name of this converted soldier derives from the word for “spear” (Greek lonch – spear). Let us ask ourselves why St. Longinus was chosen. The answer is simple: on the one hand, he, a witness of the