The celebration of Lazarus Saturday comes on the fortieth and final day of Great Lent. This powerful feast commemorates one of Christ’s greatest miracles: the raising of Lazarus of Bethany from the dead—a sign of victory over death and a prelude to the glory of Pascha.
The account of Lazarus being raised from the dead is recorded in John 11:1-45. It powerfully illustrates the truth that Christ is the resurrection and life. This event is the final and most profound of Jesus’ seven miracles recorded in the Gospel of John. Ultimately, it became the turning point that led the Jewish authorities to decide on His death.
Though not one of the Twelve Great Feasts, it is filled with festal hymns, bright vestments, and a sense of joyful anticipation. It serves as the bridge between the Great Fast and Holy Week.
One striking feature of Lazarus Saturday is that its Apolytikion (Dismissal Hymn) is the same as that sung on Palm Sunday, emphasizing Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His power over death:
Apolytikion (Tone 1)
“By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy Passion, Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God! Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!”
In the days leading up to the feast, Orthodox Christians hear deeply moving hymns during Vespers and Matins, which reflect on Christ’s compassion, Lazarus’ death, and the anticipation of resurrection.
During Vespers on Friday evening, hymns like the following are chanted:
“Wishing to see the tomb of Lazarus, O Lord… Thou hast foretold Thy disciples, saying: ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go to awake him.”
At Matins, the canon of the day includes hymns such as:
“Weep not, Martha, neither lament for thy brother Lazarus; for the Master of all is come, to raise him that was four days dead.”
These poetic hymns vividly portray both human sorrow and divine power, lifting the hearts of worshippers toward hope.
What happened to Lazarus after being resuscitated?
According to early Christian tradition, after his resurrection, Lazarus faced intense hostility from the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. Because his miraculous return to life had drawn many people to believe in Christ, he was considered a living testimony to Jesus’ divinity—and thus a threat.
Fearing for his life, Lazarus fled Judea and journeyed to Cyprus, where he could live and serve more freely. His escape also served a greater evangelical purpose as it shared the message of the Resurrection in a new land.
Once in Cyprus, Lazarus was warmly welcomed by the local Christian community. He was later ordained by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas as the first Bishop of Kition (modern-day Larnaca) around 45 AD.
As bishop, Lazarus led a life of deep humility and quiet strength. Tradition says that he never laughed again after his resurrection—so profound was his experience of the afterlife. Yet he served faithfully, guiding the faithful, preaching the Gospel, and laying the spiritual foundation for what would become one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
His episcopal service continued for thirty more years, and he reposed peacefully in the Lord. A marble sarcophagus bearing the inscription “Lazarus, the friend of Christ” was discovered in Larnaca, where the Church of Saint Lazarus now stands.
Lazarus Saturday is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Clergy wear gold or white vestments, and the mood is festive.
As Orthodox Christians now enter Holy Week, Lazarus stands as a witness: a man once dead, now alive, who served Christ faithfully until the end.