The Transfer of the Relics of Righteous Lazarus of the Four-Days, Bishop of Kiteia,
Commemorated on October 17
The Transfer of
the Relics of Righteous Lazarus of the Four-Days, Bishop of Kiteia, was
made in the IX Century. Righteous Saint Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary
(Magdalene), lived in the village of Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. During
His earthly life the Lord Jesus Christ often visited the house of Lazarus, whom
He much loved and called His friend (Jn. 11: 3, 11), and when Lazarus had died
and lain four days already in the grave, the Lord resurrected
("voskresenie") him from the dead (Jn. 11: 1-44). (The Resuscitation
("voskreshenie") of Lazarus is remembered by the Church on Saturday
of the Sixth Week of Great Lent – "Lazarus Saturday".) Many of the
Jews in hearing about this themselves came to Bethany, and being persuaded in
the reality of this most remarkable wonder, became followers of Christ. And
because of this the high-priests wanted also to kill Lazarus. Righteous Lazarus
is mentioned in the Holy Gospel yet one more time: when the Lord had come again
to Bethany 6 days before the Passover, and the resuscitated Lazarus was again also
there (Jn. 12: 1-2, 9-11). After his resuscitation Saint Lazarus lived yet
another 30 years, as a bishop on the island of Cyprus, where he spread
Christianity and peacefully reposed.
The holy relics of
Saint Lazarus were discovered in Kiteia. They were within a marble coffin, upon
which was inscribed: "Lazarus of the Four-Days, the friend of
Christ". The Byzantine emperor Leo the Wise (886-911) gave orders in the
year 898 to transfer the relics of Saint Lazarus to Constantinople and place
them within the church of Righteous Lazarus.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
