Lazarus Saturday

Definition and Meaning

Lazarus Saturday is the Saturday immediately preceding Palm Sunday, on which the Church commemorates Jesus' raising of the dead Lazarus (the raising of Lazarus). It is observed by the Orthodox Church and by churches that follow the Eastern liturgical tradition. The Orthodox Church regards this day and Palm Sunday as two special days that stand between the Lenten season and Holy Week. In the Orthodox Church, Lent is also called Great Lent, and its forty days are reckoned as ending on the Friday immediately before this day. The Orthodox Church understands the raising of Lazarus as a sign, given before Christ's suffering on the cross, that foreshadows the future resurrection of all people. For this reason, although the services are held on a Saturday, they have the joyful character of a celebration of the Resurrection.

Biblical and Historical Background

The observance is based on John 11. That chapter records how Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Martha and Mary, came out of the tomb at Jesus' call four days after he had died. John 12 relates that after this event Jesus stayed at Bethany and on the following day entered Jerusalem (the Triumphal Entry). John 12:17–18 records that the crowd who had seen or heard of Lazarus being raised went out to meet Jesus. Following this sequence, the Eastern Church set the day before Palm Sunday as the day of Lazarus and has commemorated the two days as a single, connected observance. The same hymn (troparion) is said to be sung on both days. In the Orthodox tradition it was customary to administer baptism on this day, and during the service a hymn is said to be sung based on Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Practice in the Korean Church

The Orthodox Church of Korea observes this day according to the Orthodox church calendar. Because in many years the Orthodox date of Easter differs from that of the Western churches, the date of Lazarus Saturday may differ accordingly.

Most Korean Protestant denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, Full Gospel, and others) do not observe this day as a distinct occasion. In the church calendars of these denominations, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. However, some churches that follow the church calendar read John 11 on the Fifth Sunday in Lent in certain years, in accordance with the Western Revised Common Lectionary (a table that assigns the Scripture passages to be read each Sunday according to the church calendar). In this way, the Lazarus passage is read and meditated upon during Lent in some churches.

The Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Korea likewise do not observe this day separately. Instead, they take up this passage in the Sunday readings of Lent in a designated year of the lectionary cycle.