Coordinates: 34.911495°N 33.

634793°E

Church of Saint Lazarus, Larnaca

The Church of Saint Lazarus (Greek: Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Λαζάρου, Ierós Church of Saint Lazarus
Naós Agíou Lazárou), is a late-9th century church in Larnaca, Cyprus. It Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Λαζάρου
belongs to the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church.

The Church of Saint Lazarus is named for New Testament figure Lazarus of
Bethany, the subject of a miracle recounted in the Gospel of John,[1] in which
Jesus raises him from the dead. According to Orthodox tradition, sometime
after the Resurrection of Christ, Lazarus was forced to flee Judea because of
rumoured plots on his life and came to Cyprus. There he was appointed by
Paul and Barnabas as the first Bishop of Kition (present-day Larnaca). He is
said to have lived for thirty more years and on his death was buried there for Saint Lazarus Church in Larnaca
the second and last time.[2] The Church of Agios Lazaros was built over the
Location Larnaca
reputed (second) tomb of Lazarus.
Country Cyprus
Denomination Church of Cyprus

Contents Website en.agioslazaros.org.cy

History
History and architecture
Traditions Founded late 9th century

See also Dedication Lazarus of Bethany

References Architecture
External links Style Byzantine, Gothic,
Baroque, Rococo

History and architecture

Tradition says that the place of Lazarus' tomb was lost during the period
of Arab rule beginning in 649. In 890, a tomb was found in Larnaca
bearing the inscription "Lazarus, four days dead, friend of Christ".
Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium had Lazarus' remains transferred to
Constantinople in 898. The transfer was apostrophized by Arethas,
Bishop of Caesarea, and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church
each year on October 17. The transferred relics were later looted by the
Fourth Crusade in the early 13th century and were brought to Marseille
but subsequently lost.

In recompense to Larnaca for the translation, Emperor Leo had the

Tomb of Saint Lazarus in the Church of St.
Church of St. Lazarus erected over Lazarus' tomb in the late 9th to early
Lazarus
10th centuries.

The church is an elongated building measuring 31.5 x 14.5 m with a

tripartite sanctuary, semicircular apses internally and three-sided externally and a five-sided apse in the center. The interior
structure of the church is divided into three aisles with bulky double pillars and arched openings going through them. These
pillars bear the weight of the domes thus forming the central aisle while the north and south aisles bear a semi-cylindrical roof,
intersected by cross-vaults. The stonework of the church consists mainly of square limestone block about a meter in thickness.
The church has an open porch, from which steps descend into the church.

Under Frankish and Venetian rule (the 13th to 16th centuries), the church became Roman Catholic. A stone covered portico (stoa)
of Gothic style was added on its south side during this time.

The three imposing domes of this Orthodox Basilica Church and the
original bell tower were destroyed, probably in the first years of
Ottoman rule (1571 AD), when the church was turned into a mosque. In
1589, the Ottomans sold it back to the Orthodox, probably because of
its Christian cemetery. For the next two hundred years it was used for
both Orthodox and Catholic services. The porch bears traces of Greek,
Latin, and French inscriptions. In 1857, after the Ottoman authorities
again allowed Cypriot churches to have bell towers, the church's bell-
tower was rebuilt in a Latinate style.
Iconostasis of the Church of St. Lazarus
The woodcarving of the unique baroque iconostasis of the church was
done between 1773 and 1782 by Chatzisavvas Taliadorou. The
iconostasis was gold-plated between 1793 and 1797. Some of the icons were painted towards the end of the 18th century by
Michael Proskynetes from Marathasa. Icon painter Hatzimichael completed the iconography of the iconostasis in 1797. Some of
the wood-carved furniture (including a Rococo pulpit on one pillar for Catholic use) and icons on the walls are from the 17th
century.

A fire in 1970 damaged much of the interior, including extensive damage to a section of the iconostasis together with the
corresponding icons.[3] The iconostasis has been partially restored and was re-plated with gold between 1972 and 1974. During
the subsequent renovations of the church, on November 2, 1972, human remains were discovered in a marble sarcophagus under
the altar, and were identified as part of the saint's relics (not all having been removed to Constantinople, apparently).

Traditions
On Lazarus Saturday, eight days before Easter, the icon of Saint Lazarus is taken in procession through the streets of Larnaca.

See also
Lazarus of Bethany
Church of Cyprus
Religion in Cyprus

References
1. John 11:41-44 (https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:John.11:41–11:44)
2. Michaelides, M.G. "Saint Lazarus, The Friend Of Christ And First Bishop Of Kition", Larnaca, Cyprus, 1984.
Reprinted by Fr. Demetrios Serfes at St. Lazarus The Friend Of Christ And First Bishop Of Kition, Cyprus (http://
www.serfes.org/lives/stlazarus.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20090922225302/http://www.serfes.or
g/lives/stlazarus.htm) 2009-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
3. Dubin, Marc and Damien Morris (2002). Cyprus: The Rough Guide (4th ed.). Published by Rough Guides.
ISBN 978-1-85828-863-5.
External links
Official church web site (http://en.agioslazaros.org.cy/)
Historic Churches (https://web.archive.org/web/20110713184242/http://www.larnakaregion.com/listing_info.php?i
d=193), Larnaka Regional Tourism Body
Agios Lazaros Church (http://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/discovercyprus/culture-religion/sites-monument
s/item/170-agios-lazaros-church), Cyprus Tourism Organisation

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This page was last edited on 26 October 2019, at 09:24 (UTC).

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