Church.

On There are two three-domed temples in Cyprus: St. Lazarus in the city of Larnaca, which will be discussed in this article, and the temple of the monastery of St. Barbara near the city of Famagusta. Construction Church of St. Lazarus began in 890 on the site of a church already existing at that time, where a friend of Jesus Christ, Lazarus, was buried. Facilities for the construction were provided to the city of Kition (then the city of Larnaca was called) by the emperor of Byzantium Leo VI the Wise, in exchange for part of the relics of St. Lazarus. Temple made of stone, consists of three naves - central and side rooms and three domes located on the middle nave. IN early history of the temple, when the area where it is located was uninhabited, there were swamps around (Svyato Lazarevsky swamps), this building had the status of a monastery.

IN During the period of the Venetian occupation of Cyprus, the temple was called a Benedictine monastery and belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. After the Turks captured Cyprus, the temple was bought by the Orthodox Church (1589) Turks the presence of Orthodoxy was beneficial, as they tried to reduce the influence of European Catholicism in the region. However Catholics were allowed to serve twice a year in the temple within the small chapel that adjoined the altar from the north, until 1794, when Archbishop Chrysanthos and Bishop MelitiosI, outraged by the claims of Catholics to the sole possession of the temple, did not cancel the permit for Catholic services.

ABOUT Catholic presence speaks "Jerusalem Cross", which can still be observed at the northern entrance to the temple and the Latin altar, located in a small chapel adjacent to the altar of the temple. WITH development of the city, the temple actually ceases to be a monastery, it is only listed as one according to documents, up toXIXcentury.
Three the domes were subsequently destroyed, either by an earthquake, or they were ordered to be demolished by the Turkish invaders (by 1571 the entire island was occupied by the Ottoman Empire).

Arcade near the temple was built during the restoration work later.

IN during the period of Ottoman rule in Cyprus, bell ringing and the bell towers themselves were prohibited - the bells in the Church of St. Lazarus were located on wooden structures in the form of pillars - in Larnaca, Turkish influence was not established in such a strict framework as in other cities of Cyprus, no one removed the bells. IN 1856 Russia demanded the abolition of this ban. Through a few years the construction of a stone bell tower was completed, which later also collapsed and was restored again.

Iconostasis temple - the embodiment of high craftsmanship of woodcarving. His creation began in the 1770s and continued for several decades. covered it is gold, decorated with 120 icons. Altar made in 1773 and is also a standard of woodcarving craftsmanship. Icon with the image of St. Lazarus in a vestment covered with crosses - the bishop's robe, an icon telling about the resurrection of Lazarus and many other icons adorn the walls of the temple.

Resurrection of Lazarus.

Given an event, like almost any other religious story, can be called a legend, a fairy tale, etc. IN In a simplified form, it can be rephrased as follows:

LAzar and his two sisters - Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus Christ, who often visited their house in the village of Bethany on the West Bank of the Jordan River, 3 km. from the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem.Est several options "how Jesus knew that Lazarus was sick."PO according to one data, during the illness and subsequent death of Lazarus, Jesus was on the other side of the Jordan and foresaw the illness and death of a friend “Jesus Christ foresaw with His Divinity”, told the apostles about this and they all went together to Bethany to Lazarus.PO to others, when Lazarus fell seriously ill, Jesus was already on the way to Bethany with the Apostles, but did not foresee the extremely painful state of his friend (at least, he did not tell his fellow travelers anything about it). sisters Lazarus learned that Jesus was heading towards them in the company of the Apostles, they sent messengers to meet them so that they would hurry them up. Martha and Mary believed that Jesus could heal Lazarus, who was already dying. Sent By the sisters of Lazarus, the people met the travelers and told them the whole situation. Despite To this, Jesus ordered the Apostles to stop for a couple of days to rest. On Inquiring glances of the Apostles regarding such slowness in such an urgent matter as the cure of Lazarus, Jesus allegedly said: “The illness of Lazarus is not to death, but to the glory of God. May the Son of God be glorified through her…” Those., through the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus will once again glorify God and himself. IN As a result, according to the first or second scenario described above, and perhaps according to some other, Jesus ended up in Bethany when Lazarus had already died, moreover, he had already begun to decompose. By According to various descriptions, a fetid odor emanated from the burial cave with a stone-covered entrance: “Lord, Lord, our brother Lazarus, has been lying and stinking in a coffin for four days!” Martha said to Jesus, heAshe no longer believed that in this situation it was possible to somehow return life to her brother's body. IN In the hot climate of Palestine, the rotting of corpses begins quickly, so the funeral is carried out immediately - on the day of a person's death. On the fourth day, in such a climate, the signs of decomposition become so obvious that no sane person, at the sight of such a rotting body, will even have the thought of any kind of resurrection. Skeptical the attitude of Lazar's sister Martha to this is understandable. IN Jesus answered: “Your brother will rise again, for I am the Resurrection and the life. Didn't I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God? » After After this, Jesus went to the burial cave and told them to remove the stone blocking the entrance to it. sisters Lazarus agreed, and the stone was removed. Around people crowded around, all closely watching what was happening. Jews standing in the crowd, shouting insults at Jesus, someone pointedly spat, showing their disgust for what was happening, and the rest just stopped to watch. Jesus looked at the sky and read a prayer, tears flowed down his cheeks. Through For some time Jesus approached the open burial cave a little and said loudly: “Lazarus, get out!” On In the eyes of numerous people, Lazarus, wrapped in burial linens, with a scarf on his head, came out of the cave. By according to some sources, he came out slowly, according to others, he ran out, as if frightened by something, a man. Jesus said, "Untie him, let him go!" People were so surprised by what had happened that no one could utter a word. Some the Jews, after what they saw, harbored even greater anger at Jesus, hurried to Jerusalem. There they told the members of the Sanhedrin (the highest judicial body in the cities of Ancient Judea) about what had happened, and soon a decision was made to kill Jesus. Next For two days Jesus stayed with the resurrected Lazarus at home. There He told Lazarus to go to Cyprus to avoid persecution by the Jews. Lazarus arrived in Cyprus in 33 AD at the age of 30, where he later had the title of the first Bishop of Kita. lived Lazar after the resurrection for another 30 years in the city of Kition (on the site of Kition, the city of Larnaca was formed, once consisting of two cities: Larnaca itself and the port part of Skala, where the church of St. Lazarus was located). According to According to legend, after arriving in Cyprus, Lazarus never smiled, only once a smile appeared on his face when he saw someone stealing a pot - "Clay steals clay!" he said with a smile. So he took all his food with honey (or with a low-alcohol drink based on it), supposedly "to sweeten his longing for his friend Jesus." More There is a legend that at that time there was a large vineyard on the site of the Salt Lake in Kition (Larnaca). Lazarus walked there and wanted to drink grape juice, went up to the owner and asked permission. IN the owner answered that he had no grapes. When Lazar pointed to a basket full of grapes standing nearby, the owner said that it was salt. Soon the vineyard withered, and a swamp formed in its place, and then a large salt lake, which is now called "Salt Lake".

Relics of Saint Lazarus.

First the relics of St. Lazarus were discovered in 890 in the church, which was located on the site of the current church of St. Lazarus. On the crypt was inscribed "Lazarus, who was dead for four days, friend of Christ." IN at that time the Emperor of Byzantium was LeoVI Wise. He learned about this find and ordered the delivery of the Holy relics to the capital of the Empire, Constantinople. Instead allocated funds and forces for the construction of a new temple on the site of an existing one. IN In 1972, part of the remains of the Saint was discovered in a sarcophagus under the altar of the church of St. Lazarus. This says that the inhabitants of Kition did not give up all the relics entirely. Sarcophagus and is still in its place to this day. On one of its sides is an inscription meaning the word "Friend". He made to replace the sarcophagus, which was taken to Constantinople by order of LeoVIWise together with part of the relics of St. Lazarus. From Kition The holy relics were brought to Chrysopolis, then moved to the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia. IN later LeoVIexcept the temple at Kition, built another one, named after the same Saint - in Constantinople, where part of the relics was located until the time when they were not captured by the crusaders who conquered the city. They they took the remains of Saint Lazarus to Marseille, where their fate is not known.

Photos and text: Anatoly Sidorov

Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca is known all over the world. It was founded in the Byzantine period, in 898. This is a functioning temple, its doors are open daily for visitors and believers. Pilgrims from many countries come to Cyprus to see the city, whose history is inextricably linked with Zeno, the Stoic philosopher, Saint Lazarus, who arrived on the island in an attempt to escape persecution in Judea, and the general from Athens, Kimon, who fought for the freedom of Cyprus.

The life of the Great Saint from Bethany influenced local traditions and customs, because he, being the first bishop of Kita, spent a lot of time preaching the basics of the Christian religion to the inhabitants. The temple, which was erected on the site of his burial in Cyprus, is considered the most important religious monument of Larnaca.

Temple history

When Lazarus died of illness, Jesus was in another place. And then, when he came and found out about everything, he resurrected Lazarus on the fourth day after his death. Because of this, they began to call him the Four-Day. When the Jews heard about the great miracle, they preferred to kill Lazarus, but the saint managed to escape from Jerusalem. He arrived in Cyprus with the rest of the disciples of Jesus and received the rank of Bishop of Kition. Here, on the island, Lazarus lived for another 30 years. He was buried in a marble tomb. After five hundred years, a church was built on this site.

In the seventh century, the tomb of the saint was lost, as then the Arabs ruled Cyprus. It was discovered in 890. The tomb was identified by the words “Lazarus the Four Days, friend of Christ” engraved on it. In the XIII - XVI centuries. the temple was given under the control of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the ninth century, Leo VI the Wise, the ruler of Byzantium, built a church over the burial place in order to be able to transport the relics of Lazarus to the capital of his state, to Constantinople. The shape of this building is rectangular, three domes were successively located in its vault, but now they are gone. The emblem of the Catholic Church of Cyprus, installed above the entrance, means that from the 12th to the 16th centuries the building belonged to the Catholics. In 1571, the Ottomans destroyed the bell tower and all three domes, and then in general, 18 years later, they sold the church to the Orthodox Church. After that, Catholic and Christian services were conducted in it for two hundred years. At the time when the Roman Catholic Church ruled the temple, a portico was attached to it. In 1750 a gallery was built. On the tombstones under it, there are still inscriptions that were carved in various languages. Only after the departure of the Turks in 1857 did the believers rebuild the bell towers.

The role of the temple in the life of the city was quite large. In addition to the fact that hospitals were opened in Cyprus and cemeteries were taken care of, a lot of work was carried out in the field of education. Back in the early 19th century, only private schools operated in the cities of Larnaca and Skala; only wealthy citizens could allow children to study in them. Since 1850, the church began to open schools, the maintenance of which was fully paid for. Even today, in the courtyard behind the church, you can find the building in which the school has functioned since 1857.

Legends about the life of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca

There are no written sources describing the details of the saint's stay in Cyprus. But folk tales have survived to the present, in which information about his activities and great wisdom was passed on to the next generations. Here is a very brief summary of some of them:

1. After being resurrected by Jesus, Saint Lazarus smiled only once. Seeing how one person made an attempt to steal the pot, he exclaimed: "Clay steals clay!" and a smile lit up his face. What he saw in hell in the four days leading up to his resurrection by Jesus gave him no reason to rejoice. After all, at that moment Jesus had not yet sacrificed himself for the atonement of the sins of mankind.
2. The history of the emergence of a large salt lake in Cyprus, not far from Larnaca, is also associated with the Great Saint. When there was a large vineyard in this place, the Saint, passing by, was very thirsty and asked the owner to treat him with grapes. However, he refused the request. Then Lazar pointed to a full basket in which grapes are usually carried and heard in response that there was salt. For hypocrisy and exorbitant greed, the saint turned his entire vineyard into a salt lake.
3. The most important and important legend tells about the visit of the Lady, the Blessed Mary, to the island. Being far away from his like-minded people for a long time, Saint Lazarus equipped a ship to bring to Cyprus the Mother of our Lord and his disciples. But at that moment, when the ship was already returning, the weather deteriorated and storm waves moved it to the shores of Greece. There, at the Holy Mount Athos, the Mother of God began to convert pagans into Christians. But later, she still managed to come to Cyprus. She knitted an archbishop's pallium for Lazarus.
4. According to legend, at the place where St. Lazarus was buried, in 392 they found the Cypriot Icon of the Mother of God. It depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary sitting on a throne with the Christ child in her arms. Nearby are angels holding branches. There are copies of this icon in many churches, even abroad.
5. The news that Saint Lazarus settled in Cyprus reached Russia as well. In the Pskov monastery there is a church dedicated to this religious figure. In the Assumption Cathedral, located in Moscow, this image of the Virgin is also known.
6. The delivery of holy relics from Kition to Constantinople is mentioned in two speeches by Aretas, Bishop of Caesarea, which were delivered by him in honor of this event. He describes in detail what procession Emperor Leo VI organized to deliver the relics. In honor of St. Lazarus, a temple was erected in Constantinople, but after the capture of the city by the Franks in 1204, his relics, along with other treasures, were lost. It is assumed that they were transported to Marseille and so far they have not been found.

Already traditionally, people refer to the tomb and the icon of Lazarus small wax figures and body parts, reminding the suffering of healings. There are a lot of them. Sick people want to know what the icon of St. Lazarus symbolizes in Cyprus and what helps. But it has been noticed that a variety of healings take place, which is why there are so many wax body parts brought, which symbolize their complete cure. You can buy figurines in the candle workshop, which is located nearby. Candles are made in a variety of ways. The sizes of special, festive ones can be more than a meter in height, and their diameter starts from a few centimeters.

Temple device

The Church of St. Lazarus is a three-aisled building. That is, the three interior rooms are separated by rows of columns. This ancient temple in Cyprus has an amazingly beautiful carved iconostasis, created in the 18th century by a wood carver. It consists of 120 icons. Later it was covered with gold twice. It was damaged in a fire in 1970, but subsequently carefully restored. Also in the church there is an icon of the Great Martyr George.

In 1972, in a marble sarcophagus under the altar, they managed to find the relics of St. Lazarus. At the moment they are buried in a gilded reliquary. If you use the descent down the stairs to the right of the altar to the crypt, you can look at the stone tombs, as well as wash yourself with holy water.

In the church museum you can look at old books, religious relics, documents and especially valuable ancient icons with a righteous man and other saints. Entrance will cost 1 euro.

additional information

In Cyprus, three churches built during the Byzantine period have been preserved. The temple is one of them. Regularly, from May 1 to October 31 in Russian, there are excursions for visitors absolutely free of charge. They start at 9 am.

The hours of operation (opening for visiting) of the temple are as follows:

• Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 08:30–12:30, 15:00–17:30;
• Sat 08:30–12:30;
• Wed, Sun - day off.

As always, when visiting religious centers, a certain dress code must be observed in the Church of St. Lazarus. Due to the fact that the temple is active, open, tight-fitting clothing is unacceptable. You can not come in short skirts, shorts. It is necessary to cover your shoulders and knees; for this, free capes are issued at the entrance. During the service, women are supposed to sit on the left side of the temple, and men on the right. Photography and camera shooting is prohibited. In the church shop you can buy religious books, souvenirs and other products.

In the temple, requests are made to St. Lazarus for healing, so all the icons are available. Especially important is the icon of St. Lazarus, installed on the northern wall, the date of writing of which dates back to the 16th century. The icon "The Resurrection of Lazarus", painted in the 17th century, is also in great demand. Every year, 8 days before Easter, on the so-called Lazarus Saturday, a procession takes place in the city. Ministers and believers carry the icon down the street. The Saint revered by all, helping many to restore health, is known in different countries.

Newlyweds from many countries of the world come to Larnaca to consecrate their marriage in the Church of St. Lazarus in Cyprus, in order to gain confidence in eternal love.

Since the church is located in the city center, it is not difficult to get to it. Travel time from any part of the city will take no more than 20 minutes. The duration of a visit to the temple depends on the general mood of the visitors, but you can see it and ancient relics in one to two hours.

Despite the fact that the church has a very important historical and religious significance, and is also of some interest to tourists, attracting a huge number of pilgrims, the entrance to it is still free. In addition, special attention is paid to the disabled. Chair lifts and ramps are equipped for them. There are also dedicated toilets. All together, this allows people whose health is seriously complicated not to feel any discomfort within these walls, and also to hope for a cure for serious diseases.

The entrance to the temple is free, the ticket to the Museum of St. Lazarus costs 1 euro. For excursion groups discounts.

Renting a car will cost 25-30 euros.

A bus ticket costs 1.50 euros (single) and 5 euros for skiing all day. Night bus trips (and there are such flights) cost 2.50 euros.

Parking is free, but there may be no places on them. Paid parking will cost 0.50 euros.

Time to touch religious shrines (opening hours)

The temple is open for pilgrims and tourists all year round from 8:00 to 18:30 (from April to August). Break from 12:30 to 15:30.

In the remaining months, its opening hours are reduced to 17:00, a break from 12:30 to 14:30.

The museum at the church is open all days of the week except Sunday. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Break from 12:30 to 15:00.

On Wednesday and Saturday the museum is open from 8:15 to 12:30.

How long will it take to visit the holy place

A lot of time to visit the famous landmark of Larnaca will not be needed. The church is located in the city center, the road will take about 15-20 minutes, in which area of ​​Larnaca you would not be. And staying in the temple depends on whether the service is going on or not, whether you are in the mood for communication with God or choose a different place and a different time for this. You can see the temple building, famous relics within 1-2 hours.

The history of the Church of St. Lazarus from century to century

Who is Lazar? Why such interest in his relics all over the world? Let's start with the legend of Lazarus.

The name of the saint comes from the Hebrew name Eleazar - "God helped me." The righteous Lazarus lived in Bethany. During an epidemic, he falls ill and dies. At this time, Jesus Christ, his friend and mentor, comes to the city. Upon learning of the death of Lazarus, Christ goes to his grave and resurrects the deceased.

The Jews were outraged by the unacceptable "miracle". Due to persecution, Lazarus goes on a wandering. He moves to Cyprus, where he preaches the teachings of Christ. He was only 30 years old.

According to legend, in 45 AD. (Lazarus was already 42 years old) Paul and Barnabas made him bishop of Kition (as Larnaca was called at that time). The second time he dies in 63 AD. The church of St. Lazarus appears on the site of his tomb.

The transfer of part of his relics to Constantinople, then to Marseilles gave rise to the legend of Lazarus preaching the teachings of Christ in Marseilles.

The Cypriot Orthodox Church, like the Greek one, is one of the most famous in the world. Many objects carry historical value, and those that have been restored or overhauled seem old. At least outwardly, in this region of the world they know how to create "antique" much better than in Russia.

Today we will walk along one of the central streets of Larnaca - Faneromenis. Walks from afar towards the sea with a visit to the most famous church in the city. By the way, today, on the day of the publication of this entry, there is a holiday in the church.

1. On this street from the center you can get to.

2. The first church on our way is a small Agia Faneromeni. It was built in the 20th century on the site of a Byzantine church, which, in turn, was located on an ancient tomb of the 8th century BC.

3. But a small church was not enough, so in 2006 a new church in the Byzantine style was opened nearby.

4. Here you can also find a bank of clothes. slogan "help us help"

5. Compare which old church is on the non-front side.

6. And what a new one is visible from afar.

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8. For those wishing to visit the place - the reference point is the intersection of Faneromenis and Artemidos.

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11. Behind the trees is an educational institution named after St. Lazarus.

12. Saint Lazarus is a character from the Bible.

13. According to Orthodox tradition, after the Resurrection of Christ, Lazarus was forced to leave Judea and move to Cyprus in 33 AD due to persecution. (having 30 years of age), where soon the apostles Paul and Barnabas in 45 AD made him the first bishop of Kition (the old name of the city of Larnaca). After the resurrection, he lived for another thirty years, and then died a second time in Cyprus in 63 AD. Above his tomb, the church of St. Lazarus was built.

14. For the Orthodox, and they are the majority in Cyprus, his name is very significant.

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16. According to legend, the tomb of Lazarus was lost during the period of Arab rule in the middle of the 7th century. In 890, a tomb was discovered in Larnaca with the inscription "Lazarus the Four Days, friend of Christ." By decree of Emperor Leo VI, the relics of Lazarus were transferred to Constantinople in 898, where they were laid in the temple of Righteous Lazarus.

17. To this day, the influence of another culture has been preserved in architecture.

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19. From a certain angle, this is generally a purely Arab place.

20. At the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century, the Church of St. Lazarus was built over the grave of Lazarus in Larnaca. It is one of the three Byzantine churches preserved in Cyprus. The temple has an oblong rectangular shape with a three-sided apse on the facade. Inside the temple is divided into three naves with a bulky double colonnade and arched spans between them. The temple was crowned with three domes and a bell tower on the southeast side.

21. From the 13th to the 16th century, during the reign of the Lusignan and Venetian dynasty on the island, the temple began to belong to the Roman Catholic Church. On the south side, a massive portico in the Gothic style was attached to it. In the first years of Ottoman rule (1571), the church became a mosque and its three domes with a bell tower were destroyed. In 1589, the Turks sold it to the Orthodox Church, and for the next two centuries it was used for both Orthodox and Catholic services. In 1857, after the end of the Ottoman rule on the island, it was allowed to re-build the bell tower near the temple.

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23. The unique baroque iconostasis of the church was made between 1773 and 1782. Soon it was gilded and painted. The interior of the temple was badly damaged during a fire in 1970. During the renovation of the church in November 1972, a marble sarcophagus with human remains was discovered under the altar, which were identified as the relics of St. Lazarus, which, apparently, were not completely taken to Constantinople.

24. And most importantly: the entrance to the church is open and free. Despite its value, they did not turn this church into a place of income and simply opened it for free access. Therefore, there are no crowds and pathos speeches.

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29. Eight days before Easter, on Lazarus Saturday, the icon of the saint is carried through the streets of Larnaca during the festive procession.

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31. Equipped for the disabled...

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33. If you are here, be sure to go under the church. The entry is low. Height is approximately 170 centimeters.

34. This is where the very sarcophagus is stored, which may not have been taken to Constantinople.

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36. In the church we rested from the heat and went for a walk further.

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38. But I already talked about the sea, so the walks around the city are over!

Happy upcoming church holidays to all those who celebrate! I'm not religious, so I don't celebrate much.

Are there any believers among my readers who have something to say on the issue of converting churches into mosques and vice versa? What do you think? Can a building of one religion, after alteration, be fully perceived by adherents of another religion?

Thank you for your attention! Stay in touch!

LAZARUS FOUR DAYS. SOME FACTS ABOUT THE RISEN LAZARUS AND HIS FURTHER FATE

The resurrection of Lazarus is the greatest sign, a prototype of the General Resurrection promised by the Lord. The figure of the resurrected Lazarus remains, as it were, in the shadow of this event, and yet he was one of the first Christian bishops. How did his life develop after returning from the captivity of death? Where is his grave and are his relics preserved? Why does Christ call him a friend, and how did it happen that the crowds of witnesses to the resurrection of this man not only did not believe, but reported Christ to the Pharisees? Consider these and other points related to the amazing gospel miracle.

Resurrection of Lazarus. Giotto.1304-1306

Did you know that many people attended Lazar's funeral?

Unlike the hero of the same name from the parable “About the rich man and Lazarus”, the righteous Lazarus from Bethany was a real person and, moreover, not poor. Judging by the fact that he had servants (John 11:3), his sister anointed the Savior's feet with expensive oil (John 12:3), after the death of Lazarus they put him in a separate tomb, and many Jews mourned him (John 11: 31, 33), Lazarus was probably a wealthy and famous man.

Due to their nobility, the Lazarus family apparently enjoyed special love and respect among people, since many of the Jews who lived in Jerusalem came to the sisters orphaned after the death of their brother to mourn their grief. The holy city was fifteen stages from Bethany (John 11:18), about three kilometers.

“The marvelous Catcher of men chose the recalcitrant Jews as eyewitnesses of the miracle, and they themselves showed the coffin of the deceased, rolled away the stone from the entrance to the cave, breathed in the stench of the decaying body. With their own ears they heard the call to the dead man to rise, with their own eyes they saw his first steps after the resurrection, with their own hands they untied the funeral shrouds, making sure that it was not a ghost. So, did all the Jews believe in Christ? Not at all. But they went to the rulers, and "from that day on they decided to kill Jesus"(John 11:53). Thus, the correctness of the Lord, who spoke through the mouth of Abraham in the parable of the rich and poor Lazarus, was confirmed: “If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, then if someone rose from the dead, they won’t believe”(Luke 16:31).”

Saint Amphilochius of Iconium

Did you know that Lazarus became a bishop?

Subjected to mortal danger, after the murder of the holy Protomartyr Stephen, Saint Lazarus was taken to the coast of the sea, put into a boat without oars, and removed from Judea. By divine will, Lazarus, together with the disciple of the Lord Maximinus and Saint Celidonius (blind, healed by the Lord), sailed to the shores of Cyprus. Being thirty years old before the resurrection, he lived on the island for more than thirty years. Here Lazar met the apostles Paul and Barnabas. By them he was elevated to the bishopric of the city of Kitia (Kition, the Jews called Hetim). The ruins of the ancient city of Kition were discovered during archaeological excavations and are available for inspection (from the life of Lazarus the Four Days).

Tradition says that after the resurrection, Lazarus kept strict abstinence, and that the Holy Mother of God gave him the episcopal omophorion, having made him with Her own hands (Sinaxarion).

“Indeed, the unbelief of the chiefs of the Jewish and more influential teachers of Jerusalem, which did not yield to such a striking, obvious miracle, performed in front of a whole crowd of people, is an amazing phenomenon in the history of mankind; from that time on, it ceased to be unbelief, but became a conscious opposition to the manifest truth (“now you have seen and hated me and my Father” (John 15:24)).

Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky)

Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca, built on his grave. Cyprus

Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ called Lazarus a friend?

The Gospel of John tells about this, in which our Lord Jesus Christ, wishing to go to Bethany, says to the disciples: "Lazarus, our friend, fell asleep." In the name of friendship between Christ and Lazarus, Mary and Martha call on the Lord to help their brother, saying: "That's who you love, sick"(John 12:3). In the interpretation of Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria, Christ deliberately emphasizes why He wants to go to Bethany: “Since the disciples were afraid to go to Judea, He tells them: “I am not going after what I went before, in order to expect danger from the Jews, but I am going to wake up a friend.”

The relics of St. Lazarus of the Four Days in Larnaca

Do you know where the relics of St. Lazarus of the Four Days are located?

The holy relics of Bishop Lazarus were found in Kitia. They lay in a marble ark, on which was written: "Lazarus of the Four Days, friend of Christ."

The Byzantine emperor Leo the Wise (886-911) ordered in 898 to transfer the relics of Lazarus to Constantinople and put them in the temple in the name of Righteous Lazarus.

Today, his relics rest on the island of Cyprus in the city of Larnaca in a temple consecrated in honor of the saint. In the underground crypt of this temple there is a tomb in which the righteous Lazarus was once buried.

Crypt of the Church of Lazarus. Here is an empty tomb with the signature "Friend of Christ", in which the righteous Lazarus was once buried.

Do you know that the only case described when the Lord Jesus Christ wept is connected precisely with the death of Lazarus?

“The Lord weeps because he sees man, created in His own image, subjected to decay in order to take away our tears, for for this he died, in order to free us from death”(St. Cyril of Jerusalem).

Do you know that the Gospel, which speaks of the weeping Christ, contains the main Christological dogma?

“As a man, Jesus Christ asks and cries and does everything else that would testify that He is a man; but as God, He resurrects a four-day-old and already smelling of a dead corpse, and generally does what would testify that He is God. Jesus Christ wants people to make sure that He has both natures, and therefore reveals Himself either as a man or as God.(Evfimy Zigaben).

Do you know why the Lord calls the death of Lazarus a sleep?

The Lord calls the death of Lazarus a dormition (in the Church Slavonic text), and the resurrection that He intends to accomplish, an awakening. By this He meant to say that death for Lazarus is a transient state.

Lazarus fell ill, and the disciples of Christ said to Him: "God! here is the one you love, sick"(John 11:3). And after that He and His disciples went to Judea. And then Lazarus dies. Already there, in Judea, Christ says to the disciples: “Lazarus, our friend, fell asleep; but I'm going to wake him up"(John 11:11). But the apostles did not understand Him and said: "If you fall asleep, you will recover"(John 11:12), bearing in mind, according to the word of the blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria, that the coming of Christ to Lazarus is not only not necessary, but also harmful for a friend: because “if sleep, as we think, serves to his recovery, but If You go and wake him up, You will hinder his recovery.” In addition, the Gospel itself explains to us why death is called sleep: “Jesus was talking about his death, but they thought that He was talking about an ordinary dream”(John 11:13). And then he directly announced that "Lazarus is dead"(John 11:14).

Saint Theophylact of Bulgaria speaks of three reasons why the Lord called death a dream:

1) “out of humility, for I did not want to seem boastful, but secretly called the resurrection an awakening from sleep ... For, saying that Lazarus “died,” the Lord did not add: I will go and raise him up”;

2) “to show us that every death is sleep and rest”;

3) “although the death of Lazarus for others was death, but for Jesus Himself, since He intended to resurrect him, it was nothing more than a dream. Just as it is easy for us to wake the sleeping one, so, and a thousand times more, it is convenient for Him to resurrect the dead”, “be glorified through” this miracle “Son of God” (John 11:4).

Do you know where the grave is located, where Lazarus came from, returned by the Lord to earthly life?

The tomb of Lazarus is located in Bethany, three kilometers from Jerusalem. Now, however, Bethany is identified with the village, in Arabic called Al-Aizariya, which grew up already in Christian times, in the 4th century, around the tomb of Lazarus himself. Ancient Bethany, where the family of the righteous Lazarus lived, was at a distance from Al-Aizariya - higher up the slope. Many events of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ are closely connected with ancient Bethany. Every time the Lord walked with the disciples along the Jericho road to Jerusalem, their path passed through this village.

Tomb of St. Lazarus in Bethany

Did you know that the tomb of Lazarus is also revered by Muslims?

Modern Bethany (Al-Aizariya or Eizariya) is the territory of the partially recognized state of Palestine, where the vast majority of the population are Muslim Arabs who settled in these parts already in the 7th century. As far back as the 13th century, the Dominican monk Burchardt of Zion wrote about the worship of Muslims to the grave of the righteous Lazarus.

Did you know that the resurrection of Lazarus is the key to understanding the entire fourth gospel?

The Resurrection of Lazarus is the greatest sign that prepares the reader for the Resurrection of Christ and is a type of eternal life promised to all believers: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life"(John 3:36); “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, he will live"(John 11:25).

Sretenskaya Theological Seminary