Lazareva Saturday – 2026: the story of the miracle that changed Christianity
In the spring, Orthodox Christians will celebrate Lazarus Saturday, a holiday dedicated to the miracle of the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus by Jesus Christ. In 2026, it falls on April 4th. This day precedes Palm Sunday and opens the way to Holy Week and then Easter. Read about the history and spiritual significance of Lazarus Saturday in the Izvestia article.
What is the date of Lazarev Saturday in 2026
Lazarev's Saturday does not have a fixed date in the calendar, as it directly depends on the day of Easter celebration. In 2026, the holiday falls on April 4th.
The Church commemorates the resurrection of Lazarus the day before Palm Sunday, which in 2026 falls on April 5. And exactly one week later, on April 12, the main Christian celebration, Easter, will be celebrated.
What kind of Lazarev's holiday is Saturday
Lazarus Saturday is the day when the church remembers the miracle of the resurrection of the righteous Lazarus, a resident of Bethany, by Jesus Christ. The Evangelist John the Theologian describes this event as a public "sign" that was supposed to strengthen the faith of the disciples before the coming sufferings of the Savior on the cross and certify the coming resurrection of all the dead.
In the liturgical tradition, this day is often called "little Easter." Sunday hymns are sung at matins, and the clergy change their black Lenten vestments to white ones, symbolizing the divine light.
The Biblical Story of the Resurrection of Lazarus
According to the Gospel of John, the event that formed the basis of the feast took place in Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem, where the righteous Lazarus lived with his sisters Martha and Mary. Christ often visited their home and called Lazarus his friend.
Jesus in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus
One day Lazarus became seriously ill. The sisters, knowing of the Savior's love for their brother, sent messengers to him with the news of Lazarus' illness. When Jesus heard the sad news, he said, "This disease is not for death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
According to legend, instead of immediately going to Bethany, He stayed at the place for two more days. Later, Christ explained to the disciples the reason for this delay: "Lazarus, our friend, is dead; but I am glad for you that I was not there, so that you may believe." The Savior intentionally allowed death to happen in order to then show a great sign and strengthen the faith of the disciples before the coming sufferings.
When Jesus came to Bethany, Lazarus had already been buried in a cave for four days. Marfa, who met Him, exclaimed bitterly: "Oh my God! If You had been here, my brother would not have died." But despite her grief, the girl remained firm in her faith, and the Son of God promised to resurrect her brother. Approaching the tomb, He ordered the stone covering the entrance to be rolled away. Marfa objected: "Oh my God! It already stinks, for he has been in the tomb for four days." But the Savior reminded her of her faith.
Raising his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, and then called out in a loud voice: "Lazarus! Get out." And immediately the deceased came out of the cave, wrapped hand and foot in funeral shrouds, and his face was tied with a handkerchief. This miracle, performed in public, shocked everyone present. Many Jews who saw this came to believe in Christ. However, the Pharisees and high priests, fearing that the people would recognize him as the Messiah, "from that day decided to kill Him."
After these events, Lazarus, who in the church tradition is called the Four-Day, was forced to leave Judea. According to legend, he moved to the island of Cyprus, where the Apostles Paul and Barnabas appointed him bishop of the city of Kition (modern Larnaca) in 45. He lived there for another 30 years, tirelessly preaching the Christian faith.
The Spiritual Meaning of Lazarus Sabbath
In the theological tradition, the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus has a deep meaning that goes beyond the historical event. This miracle became a visible symbol of Christ's power over life and death.
As noted in church texts, Christ resurrected Lazarus, who had been lying in the tomb for four days, to show that He was "resurrection and life." This plot is a prototype of Christ's own Resurrection, as well as a symbol of the universal resurrection of the dead at the end of time.
The hymns of the feast also reveal the dogma of the two natures in Christ.: as a man, he grieves and cries over the death of a friend, but as God raises him from the dead.
Lazarus Saturday is the turning point of Lent. It falls on the Saturday of the sixth week of Lent, when the fast is already coming to an end, but Holy Week still remains before Easter. As St. John Chrysostom noted, the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection is performed "in witness" of the coming Resurrection of Christ, preparing believers for the upcoming sufferings on the cross.
Lazarus Saturday is directly related to the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, or, as it is popularly called, Palm Sunday. After Lazarus' resurrection, the news of the miracle spread quickly throughout the area. Many, believing in Jesus as the long-awaited messiah, rushed to meet the Savior when he was on his way to Jerusalem.
The crowd greeted Christ with royal honors. People spread their clothes in front of him and held palm branches in their hands — a symbol of victory and triumph. This is how kings and triumphants were greeted in the East. The palm branches became a sign that the people recognized Jesus as the conqueror of death.
This evangelical episode was reflected in the divine services — palm branches have been consecrated annually in Jerusalem since the fourth century. In Russia, where palm trees do not grow, this plant has been replaced by willow branches, which are the first to bloom in spring, symbolizing the awakening of life. It was on Lazarev's Saturday that they went for the branches.
Thus, two holidays — Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday — form a single liturgical whole.
What is the correct name of the holiday?
In the church tradition, this day has several official names. The most complete sounds like the Sabbath of Saint and Righteous Lazarus. In the liturgical books there is the Resurrection of the righteous Lazarus. However, a simple and understandable name, Lazarev Saturday, is firmly entrenched in the people and in everyday life.
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