April 12 is Lazarev's special holiday Saturday: strict prohibitions, dangerous omens

On April 12, Orthodox believers remember one of the greatest miracles described in the Gospel, the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, performed by Jesus Christ. This event is directly related to the Easter cycle and falls on the sixth week of Great Lent, just before Palm Sunday. Read about what you can't do on Lazarev Saturday in the Izvestia article.

Lazarev's Saturday: traditions of the Orthodox holiday on April 12

Lazarus Saturday is celebrated a week before Easter and precedes the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). It is dedicated to the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, the last great miracle performed by Jesus during his lifetime.

According to legend, Lazarus, who lived in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, was a close friend of the Savior. He was suffering from a serious illness, and the sisters of the righteous turned to Christ for help. However, the Son of God did not manage to arrive to them on time — he arrived only four days after Lazarus' death.

Nevertheless, Jesus was determined to fulfill his promise and save his friend. Approaching the cave where the righteous man was buried, he said, "Come out, Lazarus," and the named one, already clothed in a funeral shroud, rose up, showing the world an example of the victory of life over death.

Lazarev's Sabbath among the Orthodox: the biblical description of the holiday, the spiritual meaning

The main sacred meaning of the last miracle of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel

The event took place in front of a large number of people, and word of it spread quickly in Jerusalem, causing not only a wave of general surprise, but also alarm among the Jewish high priests, who feared religious unrest. Lazarus himself lived for three more decades after the miracle, was ordained bishop and continued to preach, becoming a symbol of faith in salvation.

In the Orthodox tradition, Lazarus Saturday is a day of special spiritual concentration, preceding not only Palm Sunday, but also the entire Holy Week leading up to Easter. Believers strive to spend it in prayer and renunciation of worldly fuss.

On this day, it is customary to stock up on willow branches, which are then consecrated in temples on Palm Sunday. Folk tradition associates willow with renewal, the awakening of nature and the hope of well-being in the future. Churches serve a solemn liturgy, and prayer is given special importance as an act of inner purification, rethinking one's own life, and strengthening faith.

What not to do on Lazarev Saturday – 2025

Lazarus Saturday is part of the strict Great Lent, therefore it implies the rejection of plentiful food, entertainment and alcohol. It is also forbidden to get married on a holiday — the sacrament is not performed during lent.

On this day, the Church calls for inner concentration, repentance and mercy. Believers pay special attention to the purity of their thoughts, so you should not show irritation, aggression, quarrel, fight and swear.

According to popular beliefs, bread crumbs should not be thrown away on April 12, they should be given to the birds. It is not recommended to use piercing and cutting objects, and women should not do needlework. It is believed that wounds received on this day do not heal well. It is also not customary to slaughter cattle on a holiday.

Palm Sunday among the Orthodox: the biblical description of the holiday, the spiritual meaning

This year's day is celebrated on April 13th.

The ancestors avoided any major transactions on Lazarus Saturday, similarly, it was not recommended to recalculate cash. Such a restriction was perceived not as superstition, but as a reminder of the priority of the spiritual over the material. Young girls were forbidden to go "bare—haired", it was necessary to braid a braid - a symbol of order and inner peace.

It was forbidden to wear stale clothes on this day, it was advisable to prepare a new outfit for the holiday, as well as make fresh bed linen. It was also not necessary to wash and tidy up the house that day, especially to take out the trash. Our ancestors believed that this was how you could lose your luck, literally "take it out" of the door.

What can I eat today, on Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus Saturday is one of the few days of Great Lent when the church charter allows eating a product of animal origin, fish caviar (on Annunciation and Palm Sunday, believers are allowed to serve fish to the table). This relaxation is perceived as a sign of the approaching Easter. Fish caviar symbolizes the celebration of life, which is the basis of the holiday. However, fish, meat, dairy products and eggs are still not allowed.

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In 2025, Orthodox Christians will witness the descent of the Holy Fire on April 19.

The basis of the diet on this day is hot food with the addition of vegetable oil: vegetable dishes, porridges on water, fruits, legumes, mushrooms, bread, nuts and honey are allowed. In the old days, on Lazarus Saturday, they also baked lean tortillas and cooked jelly.

Folk omens on April 12, Lazarev Saturday

In folk tradition, there was a belief that on Lazarus Saturday the earth "wakes up," and the weather on that day was used to judge the future harvest.

So, a clear and sunny day promised a warm, fertile summer and an abundance of fruits in autumn. And frost predicted that the spring loaves would be well-grown.

Heavy rain indicated a dry July, and strong winds indicated a lean August. Special attention was paid to the behavior of birds: if the sparrows were bathing in the dust, they were preparing for the heat, if they stayed in a flock and did not sing, they waited for the cold snap.

Earlier, Izvestia told when Easter cakes will be consecrated in 2025.