Josep M. Subirachs
Longinus

Late 1980s
Detail of the Passion Portal
Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona

This is surely one of the most striking images from the long tradition of the Crucifixion subject. Longinus' sword symbolically pierces the very stone of which the cathedral is constructed – the Body of Christ that is the Church.

In the group above, the soldiers cast lots for Jesus' cloak.

View the entire portal.
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Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.