Tomb of Lazarus, Bethany Israel

Apr 19

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… The Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it…he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped with a cloth, Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11: 1, 38, 43 - 44

The village of Bethany still exists today, just a couple miles east of Jerusalem in the West Bank, on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. The cave identified as Lazarus’ tomb is in an area that is confirmed as a cemetery in the 1st century AD. Other tombs are in the area and there is no question about the village being the Bethany of the Bible. The specific tomb venerated as the tomb of Lazarus has been a pilgrimage site for Christians since before the 4th century AD. Since the last part of the 4th century there has been a church associated with the site. The current Church of Lazarus was designed by Antonio Barluzzi in the 1950’s. The design elements reflect a tomb like feeling (no windows), with the only light coming from the top of the dome symbolizing the resurrection of Lazarus.

Fresco in the Church of St Lazarus depicting Lazarus rising from the tomb.

Sanctuary of Bethany

Entrance to the tomb of Lazarus

Steps from the street into the tomb

narrows steps leading down to lower level and the tomb of Lazarus

Walk way from the church to the street and the entrance to the tomb.

There was once an entrance to the tomb from the earlier church at the site which has since been closed. Coming into the tomb after the last few steps.