Lazarus

The Raising of Lazarus

Saint Lazarus or Lazarus, the Four Days Dead was a friend and one of the first disciples of Jesus Christ. He was resurrected by Jesus the day before His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. The Church commemorates his feast on Lazarus Saturday, the first day of Holy Week and, conversely, the eve of Palm Sunday.

The Lazarene Miracle

According to the Gospel of John, Lazarus lived in the town of Bethany (approximately two miles outside of Jerusalem in the present day West Bank) with his two sisters, Mary and Martha. On His way to Jerusalem before the Passover, the sisters had sent word to Jesus and His Apostles that Lazarus was ill. The Lord tarried where He was, later perceiving Lazarus' death. When He arrived, Lazarus had already been in his tomb for four days. When Martha reproached Our Lord for not arriving sooner, Christ assured her that Lazarus would rise. Martha mistook this for the universal resurrection on Judgment Day, to which He replied, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26, KJV). In the presence of the mourners, the Lord ordered the stone rolled away from Lazarus' tomb and bade him to come forth. Lazarus did so, still in his grave wrappings. Jesus then called for the crowd to remove the wrappings and free him. St. John goes on to explain that even more Jews were convinced of Jesus' divinity. This event struck fear into the hearts of the Jewish leaders, so much so that they even considered putting Lazarus to death (John 12:9-11). The religious hierarchy of the Jews at this time was dominated by Sadducees, who denied the resurrection. The Raising of Lazarus represents a testimony to the resurrection - both Christ's and the universal resurrection, as well as Our Lord as victor over death.

According to the V. Rev. Fr. Thomas Hopko, the Lazarene Miracle is the "climactic high point" of St. John's Gospel and the proof of Christ's divinity. It is also the act which serves as the catalyst of the events leading to Our Lord's arrest and Passion.¹

Later Life

According to the Scriptures, Lazarus was compelled to seek refuge away from Jerusalem to avoid the anger of the high priests and the pharisees, who wanted to kill him, ...the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed in Jesus' (John 12:10-11). Many christians too ... were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about. Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch ...; just like Stephen, Lazarus would also have left Judea to seek refuge in another country.

According to tradition, this location was Kittium of Cyprus. When Apostle Paul and Apostle Barnabas travelled to Cyprus, they ordained Lazarus as the first Bishop of Kitium. That is why all episcopal thrones in Larnaca have the icon of St. Lazarus instead of Christ, which is the standard custom of the church.

Little is known about Lazarus after Our Lord's Resurrection and Ascension. However, his stay in Larnaca is connected with various traditions. The most famous is that during the thirty years of his life he never smiled except for one occcassion. He saw someone stealing a clay pot and he laughed saying, "the clay steals the clay".

Another famous tradition connects Lazarus with the discovery of Mount Athos. Lazarus was very close to Christ and his family and was missing the Virgin Mary. For this reason, he sent a ship to the Holy Lands to bring the Virgin Mary and John the Theologian to Cyprus for a visit. While they were travelling, a great storm blew the ship off course and carried the ship to the shores of Athos, Greece. According to the tradition, the most holy Theotokos, was taken aback by the beauty of the area and prayed to her son that this could be her garden. After converting the local idolaters they set sail for Cyprus and met with Lazarus. It is said, that she had knit for Lazarus a Bishop's pallium with her own hands.

The first tomb of Lazarus in Bethany remains as a site for pilgrims to this very day. The second tomb, on the island of Cyprus, was found in Kittium sometime in A.D. 890, with his relics inside and bearing the inscription "Lazarus, the Friend of Christ."

Subsequently a church dedicated to Saint Lazarus has been built on this site.

See Also

• Church of Cyprus
• Lazarus Saturday
• Resurrection

References

• 1 Lazarus Saturday. Speaking the Truth in Love Podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko. Ancient Faith Radio. 18 April 2008.