Al-Elzariya, West Bank – Palestine
Coordinates: 31.771712, 35.255880
The Tomb of Saint Lazarus is a traditional spot of pilgrimage located in the West Bank town of al-Eizariya, on the southeast slope of the Mount of Olives, some 2.4 km (1.5 miles) east of Jerusalem.
The tomb is the purported site of a miracle recorded in which Hz. Isa عليه اسلام raised Saint Lazarus from the dead.
This site is sacred to both Muslims and Christians.
Story
Saint Lazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Saint Lazarus is the subject of a prominent sign of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام miracle, in which he restored him to life four days after his death.
A certain El-azer (Saint Lazarus) is introduced as a follower of Hz. Isa عليه اسلام who lived in the town of Bethany near Jerusalem.
His sisters send word to Hz. Isa عليه اسلام that Saint Lazarus, “he whom thou lovest,” is ill.
Instead of immediately traveling to Bethany, according to the narrator, Hz. Isa عليه اسلام intentionally remains where he is for two more days before beginning the journey.
When Hz. Isa عليه اسلام arrives in Bethany, he finds that Saint Lazarus is dead and has already been in his tomb for four days. He meets first with Martha and Mary (Saint Lazarus sisters) in turn.
Martha laments that Hz. Isa عليه اسلام did not arrive soon enough to heal her brother. It is said that Upon hearing this statement “Hz. Isa عليه اسلام wept”.
In the presence of a crowd of Jewish mourners, Hz. Isa عليه اسلام comes to the tomb.
Over the objections of Martha, Jesus has them roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and than prayed to Allah.
He then calls Saint Lazarus to come out (“Come forth”) and Saint Lazarus does so, still wrapped in his grave-cloths.
Hz. Isa عليه اسلام then calls for someone to remove the grave-cloths, and let him go.
The narrative ends with the statement that many of the jews, who were witness to this event, “believed in him.” Others are said to report the events to the religious authorities in Jerusalem.
Tomb of Saint Saint Lazarus
The reputed first tomb of Saint Lazarus is in Al-azeria and continues to be a place of pilgrimage to this day.
In the 16th century, the Ottomans built the larger al-Uzair Mosque to serve the town’s (now Muslim) inhabitants and named it in honor of the town’s patron saint, Saint Lazarus of Bethany.
The entrance of Tomb of Saint Lazarus is open to modern street and from the street level where you had to go down about twenty steps which led to a square chamber.
From there more steps led to a lower chamber which is believed to be the tomb of Saint Lazarus.
The Mosque of al-Uzair stands over the tomb.
Adjacent Church of St. Saint Lazarus was built in the 1950s.
Know This
The tomb of Saint Lazarus lies outside Jerusalem in Bethany or Al Azariya and you get there by bus.
A lot of people want to see the tomb so it is best to come early in the morning. To look at the tomb you have to climb down very steep and dark stairs, which may be dangerous.
