St. Longinus of Egypt (4th c.)
Commemorated on November 17
"Our holy Father Longinus lived in the Egyptian deserts during
the fourth or fifth century. Among other sayings of his, are the following:
A dead man judges no one, and it is just the same with the
man who is humble. To someone who wanted to go to live in exile, he
replied: Unless you guard your tongue, you will not be able
to live in exile wherever you go. To someone else who wanted to live
in solitude, he said: If you do not exercise the virtues in
the midst of men, still less will you be able to do so in solitude.
By his life and his words he taught love of humility as superior to all the
works of ascesis, saying: Fasting humbles the body, vigil
purifies the intellect and stillness leads to the affliction that baptizes man
anew and cleanses him of all sin.
We also owe to him the famous saying: Shed your blood and
receive the Spirit." (Synaxarion)