Difference between revisions of "Lazarus Saturday"
(New page: right|frame|The Raising of Lazarus '''Lazarus Saturday''' is the day before Palm Sunday (the feast of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem). This...) |
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[[Image:raisingoflazarus.jpg|right|frame|The Raising of Lazarus]] | [[Image:raisingoflazarus.jpg|right|frame|The Raising of Lazarus]] | ||
| − | '''Lazarus Saturday''' is the day before [[Palm Sunday]] (the feast of [[Christ]]'s triumphal entry into Jerusalem). | + | '''Lazarus Saturday''' is the day before [[Palm Sunday]] (the feast of [[Christ]]'s triumphal entry into Jerusalem). This Saturday and Sunday are the connection between [[Great Lent]] and [[Holy Week]]. On the eve of the celebration of the Resurrection of [[Lazarus]], the forty days of Great Lent are formally brought to an end at [[Vespers]]. These two days are the unique and paradoxical days before the Lord's [[Passion]]. |
==Celebration of the feast== | ==Celebration of the feast== | ||
| − | Lazarus Saturday is a [[pascha]]l celebration. The [[liturgy]] of Lazarus Saturday glorifies Christ as the ''Resurrection and the Life'' who, by raising Lazarus, has confirmed the universal resurrection of mankind, even before his own suffering and death. | + | Lazarus Saturday is a [[pascha]]l celebration. The [[liturgy]] of Lazarus Saturday glorifies Christ as the ''Resurrection and the Life'' who, by raising Lazarus, has confirmed the universal resurrection of mankind, even before his own suffering and death. This liturgy is the only time in the [[Church Calendar|Church year]] that the resurrectional service of Sunday is celebrated on another day. |
| − | Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal days in the | + | Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal days in the ecclesiastical year. At the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday the [[baptism]]al verse from [[Galatians]]: ''As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ'' (Galatians 3:27) replaces the [[Trisagion|Thrice-Holy Hymn]]. |
==Fulfillment of prophecies== | ==Fulfillment of prophecies== | ||
| − | Because of the resurrection of Lazarus from | + | Because of the resurrection of Lazarus from his four-day-long death, Christ was hailed as the long-expected messiah, the King of Israel. |
| − | In fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, he entered | + | In fulfillment of the prophecies of the [[Old Testament]], he entered Jerusalem, the city of the king, riding on the colt of an ass ([[Zech]] 9:9; [[John]] 12:12). Crowds greeted him. They had branches in their hands and called out to him with shouts of praise: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Son of David! The King of Israel! Because of this glorification by the people, the priests and scribes were finally driven ''to destroy him, to put him to death'' ([[Luke]] 19:47; John 11:53, 12:10). |
==Hymns== | ==Hymns== | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
:Christ the Joy, the Truth and the Light of all, | :Christ the Joy, the Truth and the Light of all, | ||
:The Life of the World and the Resurrection | :The Life of the World and the Resurrection | ||
| − | :Has appeared in His goodness | + | :Has appeared in His goodness to those on earth. |
:He has become the Image of our Resurrection, | :He has become the Image of our Resurrection, | ||
:Granting divine forgiveness to all! | :Granting divine forgiveness to all! | ||
Revision as of 04:53, March 3, 2007
Lazarus Saturday is the day before Palm Sunday (the feast of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem). This Saturday and Sunday are the connection between Great Lent and Holy Week. On the eve of the celebration of the Resurrection of Lazarus, the forty days of Great Lent are formally brought to an end at Vespers. These two days are the unique and paradoxical days before the Lord's Passion.
Celebration of the feast
Lazarus Saturday is a paschal celebration. The liturgy of Lazarus Saturday glorifies Christ as the Resurrection and the Life who, by raising Lazarus, has confirmed the universal resurrection of mankind, even before his own suffering and death. This liturgy is the only time in the Church year that the resurrectional service of Sunday is celebrated on another day.
Lazarus Saturday was once among the few great baptismal days in the ecclesiastical year. At the Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday the baptismal verse from Galatians: As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27) replaces the Thrice-Holy Hymn.
Fulfillment of prophecies
Because of the resurrection of Lazarus from his four-day-long death, Christ was hailed as the long-expected messiah, the King of Israel.
In fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, he entered Jerusalem, the city of the king, riding on the colt of an ass (Zech 9:9; John 12:12). Crowds greeted him. They had branches in their hands and called out to him with shouts of praise: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Son of David! The King of Israel! Because of this glorification by the people, the priests and scribes were finally driven to destroy him, to put him to death (Luke 19:47; John 11:53, 12:10).
Hymns
Troparion (Tone 1)
- By raising Lazarus from the dead before Your passion,
- You did confirm the universal Resurrection, O Christ God!
- Like the children with the palms of victory,
- We cry out to You, O Vanquisher of death;
- Hosanna in the Highest!
- Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord!
Kontakion (Tone 2)
- Christ the Joy, the Truth and the Light of all,
- The Life of the World and the Resurrection
- Has appeared in His goodness to those on earth.
- He has become the Image of our Resurrection,
- Granting divine forgiveness to all!
External link
- The Raising of Lazarus (Lazarus Saturday) – from OCA website
