HOLY WEEK 2026: SATURDAY OF SAINT LAZARUS

As the Latin West has relegated the singular most essential story of Christianity -- the Harrowing of Hades -- to the periphery of their religion, Eastern Orthodoxy is celebrating Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, the runup to Holy Week. Latin Easter and Orthodox Pascha are this year just one week apart. We'll have a closer look at the most central story in Christendom one week from now, next Saturday. Today we'll focus on the story of Lazarus, Jesus's friend whom he raised from the dead, what became of Lazarus and how that surprisingly led to the All Holy Mother of God's gift of the garden of Holy Mount Athos. 

 April 10, 2025 Patristix: Lazarus of Bethany (of the 4 days dead).

Kition is today called Larnaca. We visited the Church of Saint Lazarus on two earlier occasions. Both videos are available in the post on "Holy Week 2024: "Saturday of Saint Lazarus" link).

We recently followed Fotis Parakatselakis on his first, four day pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain Athos, also called the garden of the All Holy Mother of God (link). Now we know how that came about. 

Here's the story of Saint Lazarus read by Father Peter Heers. 

April 11, 2025 Orthodox Ethos: The Resurrection of Lazarus.

Lazarakia: The little buns that welcome Holy Week https://t.co/0ulx73HGL6 pic.twitter.com/o7FzMbSn71

— Kathimerini English Edition (@ekathimerini) April 4, 2026

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