Lazarus Awakens

Blessed Saturday of Lazarus! Today we celebrate the incredible miracle of Christ raising St. Lazarus from the dead. It is this miracle that brought many to believe in Jesus.🙏🏼

Soon after this miracle, Lazarus fled to Cypress, because the Jews wanted to kill him for the miracle Christ had performed through him.

During the ministry of the apostles Paul and Barnabas, they visited the pious St. Lazarus and ordained him the first bishop of Cypress.

May blessed St. Lazarus as well as his sisters St. Mary and St. Martha intercede for us always.

On a side note, today also marks the 10 year anniversary of my family’s conversion to Orthodox Christianity! Glory to God!

Here’s the chant for Saturday of St. Lazarus:

“Rejoice, rejoice, O Bethany!
On this day God came to thee, 
And in Him the dead are made alive, 
As it is right for He is the Life.

When Martha went to receive Him,
Grieving loudly with bitter tears,
She poured out the sorrow of her heart to Him
With great sadness, wailing her lament.

She at once cried out unto Him:
"My most compassionate Lord, my Lord,
At the great loss of my brother Lazarus
My heart is broken, help me." Jesus said to her, "Cease your weeping,
Cease your grieving and sad lament;
For your brother, My most beloved friend, Lazarus,
Very soon will live again." Then He, the faithful Redeemer,
Made His way unto the tomb,
Where he cried unto him who was buried four days,
Calling him forth, saying "Lazarus, arise." Come with haste, ye two sisters,
And behold a wondrous thing,
For your brother from the tomb has returned to life.
To the beloved Redeemer now give thanks.

To Thee, O Lord of creation,
We kneel down in reverence profound,
For all we who are dead in sin,
In Thee, O Jesus, are made alive.”