In the Orthodox Christian tradition, on the eve of the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the Church decided to solemnly celebrate Lazarev’s Sabbath. This special day is a recollection of one of the most amazing miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The feast of Lazarev Saturday is named after the double miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the righteous Lazarus. Christian tradition calls Lazarus a four-day one, since the very fact of the resurrection of the righteous took place on the fourth day after his death.
Scripture tells us that Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary. It is known from the gospel that this family was dear to the Lord.
The Evangelist John the Theologian tells about the event of the resurrection of Lazarus. In particular, from the description of the narrative about this event, it is known that Lazarus died in Bethany at the time when Christ himself was in Perea. Even during Lazarus’s illness, the sisters sent to the Lord with news about their brother’s illness. However, Christ did not hurry to come to Bethany, staying in Perea for two days.
Christ himself told his disciples that this disease would show the great glory of God. After several days, Christ ascertained the death of Lazarus as a dream and went to Bethany to perform the miracle of the resurrection. Theologians believe that Christ hesitated to heal the sick in order to reveal to the world a miracle even more amazing than healing from the disease.
Even on the way to Bethany Christ met Martha. A righteous woman with tears said that if Christ had come earlier, Lazarus would not have died. However, Christ announced to his sister the resurrection of her brother. Following Martha met Christ and Mary, who was also in deep sadness.
When Christ approached the cave in which Lazarus was buried, the Savior ordered the stone to roll away from the entrance to the burial place. Martha also said that the body of Lazarus had already begun to undergo decomposition, because her brother had been in the tomb for the fourth day. After this, Christ offered a prayer to God the Father as a sign that the miracle performed by him was not the result of communion with demonic power (as many scribes and Pharisees believed). After prayer, Christ turned to Lazarus: "Lazarus! Go out." After these words, Lazarus miraculously rose. This happened one of the most amazing miracles performed by the Savior during his earthly life.
Orthodox tradition says that after the resurrection, Lazarus was forced to leave Palestine, because the Pharisees wanted to kill him, because the friend of Christ was real evidence of the amazing miracle of the resurrection. Lazarus went to the island of Crete, where the apostles Paul and Barnabas were ordained bishop Kition in 45.
In 890, the relics of the righteous Lazarus in Kitia (the modern city of Larnaca) were acquired. Nine years later, the relics of one of the first bishops of the Church were transferred to Constantinople.
At present, in the Orthodox Church, the memory of the holy righteous Lazarus of the four days is celebrated twice - on Saturday of the sixth week of Lent (Lazarev Saturday) and on October 30 (a celebration in honor of the transfer of the relics of the saint to Constantinople).
