Mentioned in the New Testament as the home of the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and, according to the Gospel of John, Bethany- the site of a miracle in which Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Al-Eizariya (Bethany) is located in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank.
The view from our bus window on our way from Jericho to Bethany.
West Bank.
The streets of al-Eizariya (Bethany) in the West Bank on our way to St. Lazarus Church.
In 1952-55 a modern Franciscan church dedicated to St. Lazarus was built over the Byzantine church of St. Lazarus and Crusader east church of Sts. Mary and Martha. In 1965, a Greek church was built just west of the Tomb of Lazarus.
The streets of al-Eizariya (Bethany) in the West Bank.
The pilgrims making their way to the church of St. Lazarus.
The interior of the dome of St. Lazarus Church.
The interior of the Church of St. Lazarus.
Father Rymdeika giving the homily for the tour group.
Facade of the Church of St. Lazarus.
In the 16th century, the Mosque of al-Uzair (Ezra) was built in the Crusader vault, which initially made Christian access to the tomb more difficult. However, the Franciscans were permitted to cut a new entrance on the north side of the tomb and at some point the original entrance from the mosque was blocked. Behind the mosque is the Greek Church of St. Lazarus.
By building mosques beside Christianity's Holy sites and their minarets towering over the Basilica, this is one sinister way of muslims trampling and humiliating Christians. This can be observed in muslim-dominated areas of the Holy Land.
By building mosques beside Christianity's Holy sites and their minarets towering over the Basilica, this is one sinister way of muslims trampling and humiliating Christians. This can be observed in muslim-dominated areas of the Holy Land.
The streets of al-Eizariya (Bethany) in the West Bank
The streets of al-Eizariya (Bethany) in the West Bank.
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