Saint Lazarus

Catholic Saint

st.Lazarus-Brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany,

friend of Jesus who was raised from the dead

Feast Day : July 29

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus is given in John 11:1–44. Lazarus fell ill and Jesus was notified. He said the illness was not unto death, and stayed two days longer in the place where he was at. He told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him out of sleep.” Then he explained more clearly, “Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, Lazarus had been dead four days and entombed. Jesus was met by Martha, who told him Lazarus would not have died had he come earlier, but she acknowledged that God would grant whatever Jesus asked. Jesus promised that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha thought he meant in the resurrection at the last day. Mary, weeping, also told Jesus that Lazarus would not have died had he come earlier. Jesus went to the tomb and ordered the stone rolled away. Martha protested that there would be an odor, but the stone was taken away.

Jesus called out, “Father, I thank thee and thou hast heard me. I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me.” Then he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus, his hands and feet bound in bandages, came out of the tomb. Jesus commanded, “Unbind him and let him go.” Word of this feat reached the Pharisees, who began plotting how to put Jesus to death. After this, Jesus no longer went openly among the Jews. Soon thereafter, he was betrayed, arrested and crucified. The Gospels do not relate what happened to Lazarus after his resurrection. Tradition holds that after the Crucifixion, Lazarus and his sisters went to the south of France, where Lazarus became the first bishop of Marseilles and then was martyred. Other legends purport that they went to Cyprus, where he became the bishop of Kition, or they went to Syria. Tradition also holds that the relics of Lazarus were translated to Constantinople. His cultus was popular in the early Church.