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[[Image:raisingoflazarus.jpg|right|frame|The Raising of Lazarus]][[Saint]] '''Lazarus''' or '''Lazarus, the Four Days Dead''' was a friend and one of the first disciples of [[Jesus Christ]] and first Bishop of [[Metropolis of Kittium|Kittium]], [[Church of Cyprus|Cyprus]]. He was resurrected by Jesus shortly before His [[Palm Sunday|triumphal entry]] into the city of Jerusalem. The [[Church]] commemorates his feast on [[March 17]],<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/2957/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ὁ Ἅγιος Λάζαρος ὁ Δίκαιος, ὁ φίλος τοῦ Χριστοῦ].'' 17 Μαρτίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref group="note">In the [[Synaxarion]] of Constantinople and in the Lavreotic Codex, reference is made to the "Raising of Lazarus" - the Holy and Just Lazarus, the friend of Christ. The entry for [[October 17]] in the ''' ''Prologue from Ohrid'' ''' also mentions that: ''"Lazarus's principle feasts are on '''[[March 17]]''' and Lazarus Saturdayduring [[Great Lent]]."''<br>:* <small>Bishop [[Nikolai Velimirovic]], the first . ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=October&day =17&Go.x=10&Go.y=20 October 17 - The Prologue from Ohrid].'' (Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America). Retrieved 2013-04-15.</small></ref> as well as on [[Holy WeekLazarus Saturday]], which concludes [[Great Lent]] and, is conversely, the eve of [[Palm Sunday]]. The translation of his [[relics]] from [[Church of Cyprus|Cyprus]] to Constantinople in the year 890 AD is commemorated on [[October 17]].<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/903/sxsaintinfo.aspx Ἀνακομιδὴ καὶ Κατάθεσις τοῦ Λειψάνου τοῦ Ἁγίου καὶ Δικαίου Λαζάρου].'' 17 Οκτωβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.</ref><ref>Bishop [[Nikolai Velimirovic]]. ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=October&day=17&Go.x=10&Go.y=20 October 17 - The Prologue from Ohrid].'' (Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America). Retrieved 2013-04-15.</ref><ref group="note">"...Under today's date is commemorated the translation of his relics from the island of Cyprus to Constantinople. This occurred when Emperor [[Leo VI the Wise|Leo the Wise]] built the Church of St. Lazarus in [[Constantinople]], and translated Lazarus's relics there in the year 890. When, after almost a thousand years, Lazarus's grave in the town of Kition on Cyprus was unearthed, a marble tablet was found with the inscription: ''"Lazarus of the Four Days, the friend of Christ."''"<br>:* <small>Bishop [[Nikolai Velimirovic]]. ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=October&day=17&Go.x=10&Go.y=20 October 17 - The Prologue from Ohrid].'' (Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America). Retrieved 2013-04-15.</small></ref>
==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 of Bethany|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 [[Book of Revelation|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. [[Presbyter|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]].{{<ref|1}}>[http://audio.ancientfaith.com/hopko/stt022lazarus_saturday_pc.mp3/ Lazarus Saturday.] ''Speaking the Truth in Love'' Podcast by Fr. [[Thomas Hopko]]. Ancient Faith Radio. 18 April 2008.</ref>
==Later Life==
According to Scripture and the tradition of the Cypriot church, 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 have had to leave Judea to seek refuge in another country.
This location was [[Metropolis of KittiumKition|KittiumKition]] (today Kittium is called Larnaca) of in [[Church of Cyprus|Cyprus]]. <ref group="note">Today Kition (or Kittium) is called Larnaca.</ref> 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 more is known about Lazarus after Our Lord's [[Pascha|Resurrection]] and [[Ascension]] except that during his thirty year he never smiled or joked except for one occasion. One day, he saw someone stealing a clay pot and he laughed saying, "the clay steals the clay".
*[[Resurrection]]
==ReferencesNotes==*{{<references group="note|1}} [http:" /> ==References== <div><references/audio.ancientfaith.com/hopko/stt022lazarus_saturday_pc.mp3></ Lazarus Saturday.] ''Speaking the Truth in Love'' Podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko. Ancient Faith Radio. 18 April 2008.div>
[[Category:1st-century bishops]]
[[Category:1st-century saints]]
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Biblical Saints]]
[[ro:Lazăr]]
