Travelers from all over the world believe that the island of Cyprus is one of best places on Earth for beach holiday. Magnificent nature, gentle sea, bright sun, well-equipped beaches - what could be better for lovers of such a pastime?

However, for many tourists such a holiday very soon becomes tiring, and they are interested in what can be seen in Cyprus. First of all, we recommend that you visit the Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca - a unique landmark of the island, perfectly preserved to this day from the Byzantine era.

Cypriots consider this magnificent structure one of the most beautiful on the island. In ancient times, Christians who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land were sure to visit the Church of St. Lazarus. It should be noted that the temple is conveniently located - in the very center of Larnaca, so you can easily get here on your own, even if you are staying in another city. IN last years In Cyprus, bus service is actively developing, and you can also use taxi services, which can be called from any hotel.

Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca in Cyprus: history

Construction famous temple started back in 890. The work was carried out on the site of the existing church at that time, where the friend of Jesus Christ himself, Lazarus, was buried. For the construction of the temple, funds were allocated to the city of Kition (that is what Larnaca was called in those days) by Emperor Leo VI the Wise.

Initially, during the Venetian occupation of the island, the temple was named It was part of the empire. After the capture of Cyprus by the Turks, the temple was bought (1589) by the Orthodox Church. The Turks were satisfied with the presence of Orthodoxy on this land, since they tried in every possible way to reduce the influence of Catholicism in this region. At the same time, Catholics received permission to hold services in the church twice a year (in a small chapel). It adjoined the altar from the north and remained until 1794.

Features of the temple during the reign of the Ottomans

During times Ottoman Empire The Church of St. Lazarus (Larnaca) lost its bell ringing, and the belfries themselves were banned. The bells in the temple were on wooden structures, but since the Turkish influence in Larnaca was not as severe as in others, they were not removed.

At the request of Russia, this ban was lifted in 1856. A few years later, a stone bell tower was built, which was subsequently destroyed and restored several times.

Saint Lazarus

All ancient Christian churches keep many legends and traditions. The Church of St. Lazarus (Cyprus) is no exception. Saint Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus Christ. On the fourth day after death, he was resurrected by Jesus. That’s why Lazarus is often called the Four-Dayed One.

Having learned about the great miracle, the Jews decided to kill Lazarus, and he was forced to flee Jerusalem. Together with a group of other disciples of Jesus, he went to Cyprus. Arriving on the island of Lazarus, the holy apostles proclaimed him bishop of the city of Kition, where he lived for 30 years.

After his death, Lazarus was buried in a marble tomb. Five hundred years later, Emperor Leo IV ordered the construction of a stone church at the burial site of the saint. Saint Lazarus is the patron saint of the city of Larnaca, and the temple built in his honor for a long time was the educational, cultural, religious and social center of the city. For 250 years, the Church of St. Lazarus opened hospitals and schools, and kept order in cemeteries. She supported those in need, paid for the education of students, and defended the interests of the townspeople. According to historians, such an active public position was not at all typical for most churches in Cyprus at that time.

Cypriots are very proud that Saint Lazarus lived on their land. Since ancient times they have made up legends about him. One of them tells how Lake Aliki (Salty) appeared. Once upon a time there was a beautiful vineyard in its place, which belonged to elderly woman. When Lazarus, thirsty and tired, passing by, asked her for a small bunch of grapes, the stingy old woman refused him. Saint Lazarus asked, pointing to a full basket of fragrant berries: “What is this?” and in response I heard: “Salt.” Distressed by the outright lie, Lazarus said: “From now on, let everything here turn to salt.” Since then, Lake Aliki has appeared here.

Church of Saint Lazarus (Republic of Cyprus): description

The island's most famous and most visited temple features magnificent Byzantine architecture. Outwardly, it looks quite stern and even a little reminiscent of a medieval fortress. Made of stone. The length of the building is more than thirty meters.

The Church of Saint Lazarus (Republic of Cyprus) consisted of three naves and three domes. It belongs to a rare architectural type and is significantly different from most multi-domed churches. The arcade appeared here during restoration work much later.

Near the northern entrance to the temple is the ancient emblem of the Latins. In the western part of the building there is the Museum of St. Lazarus, which contains unique religious objects - icons and ancient books, church utensils and clothing. Next to the museum there is a church shop that sells icons depicting Lazarus, books, copies of Byzantine letters and much more. Archaeologists were able to establish that in ancient times even the outer walls of the temple were decorated with numerous frescoes, which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day.

Interior decoration

The interior design of the temple fascinates with its mystery - twilight, a lot of gilding and silver. The Church of St. Lazarus is famous for its unique treasure - the iconostasis made of carved wood. It was made by the talented carver Hadji Taliadoros. This exquisite work was completed in nine years. The iconostasis was covered in gold and decorated with one hundred and twenty icons. Each of them is a unique work of art.

Under the iconostasis there is a small church carved into the rock - steps lead into it on the right. Next to the central altar there is a chapel in which the Latin altar has been preserved.

Relics of St. Lazarus

Believers who want to worship Saint Lazarus go down to the room located under the altar. A shrine with his relics is installed here. In front of the entrance (near the eastern wall) there is a holy spring.

The relics of Lazarus were first discovered in 890 in a small church located here. Leo VI, who learned about the find, ordered the Holy Relics to be transported to Constantinople. In 1972, in a sarcophagus located under the altar of the church, scientists discovered part of the remains of the saint. This indicates that the inhabitants of Kition did not give up all the relics.

The sarcophagus remains in the same place today. On one of its sides there is an inscription that translates as “friend”. It was made to replace the first sarcophagus, which was delivered to Constantinople with part of the relics of St. Lazarus. From Kition the relics were sent to Chrysopolis, then to the Cathedral of St. Sofia.

Later, Emperor Leo VI built another temple, consecrated in honor of St. Lazarus (in Constantinople). The brought part of the relics remained there until they were captured by the crusaders who conquered the city. They transported the remains to Marseille. Their further fate is not yet known.

Rules for visiting the temple

If you want to visit the Church of St. Lazarus, you should be aware of the rules that must be strictly followed.

1. Women must be dressed strictly. It is prohibited to enter the temple in shorts, miniskirts, revealing or too tight clothes.
2. During the service, men and women sit separately. Men occupy the right side of the temple, women occupy the left.
3. It is forbidden to talk, photograph or film services in the church, or disturb the believers.

Wedding

One very beautiful custom glorified the Church of St. Lazarus throughout the world. It's about about the wedding. Travel agencies from different countries offer couples in love to sanctify their union in this ancient Christian shrine. Newlyweds from all over the world come here to receive divine support and vow eternal love.

Educational activities

Today, the cultural and educational center, which began its activities in 1875, continues to operate at the temple. Then it was a parochial school, and today the Church of St. Lazarus makes an invaluable contribution to the education and upbringing of children.

Nowadays the center is located in a restored building, where about one hundred and fifty people can be present at the same time. Conferences, fascinating lectures, film screenings, organ and classical music concerts, and small theater productions are held here.

Opening hours

Probably many tourists are interested in when they can visit the Church of St. Lazarus. Temple opening hours vary depending on the season. In summer you can explore the temple from 8:30 to 13:00, and then from 16:00 to 18:30. On Saturday the temple is open from 8:30 to 13:00. IN winter time(September-March) - from 8:00 to 17:00

The Orthodox Church throughout the world honors the memory of Saint Lazarus a week before Easter celebrations. This day is especially loved and solemnly celebrated in Larnaca.

The Temple of Christ's Friend Lazarus of the Four Days is one of two three-domed churches that exist today in Cyprus. The other is near Famagusta. This is the temple of the monastery of St. Barnabas. These two churches belong to a rare architectural type and are very different from other multi-domed churches. The temple was built at the end of the 9th century (about 890) by Leo VI the Wise, Emperor of Byzantium. Entirely made of stone with three naves, central and side, and three domes built on the middle nave. These three domes were subsequently demolished. According to legend, they were demolished during the Turkish occupation, when a Turkish officer who sailed to the port of Larnaca, mistaking the domes of the Temple for the domes of a mosque, knelt down and prayed. Subsequently, he ordered the domes to be “shortened”. According to another version, the domes were damaged by an earthquake, the date of which is unknown; however, in 1734, when the Russian monk Vasily Barsky visited the temple, the domes had already been destroyed. Towards the end of the Frankish period (1191 - 1571), or according to another opinion around 1750 (when restoration work was carried out under the leadership of Bishop Makarios I of China), the arcade that we see today on the south side of the temple was erected.

In the courtyard of the Church of St. Lazarus

Tomb in the basement of the temple One of the main shrines of Orthodox Cyprus is the temple of the holy righteous Lazarus the Four-Days, Bishop of Kitia. Kition, Kitiy - ancient name Larnaca. Actually, “larnak” means, translated from Greek, “sarcophagus”. The relics of the saint rest in this temple, and in the underground crypt there is a tomb in which the righteous Lazarus was once buried. There, in the crypt, there is a holy spring. The relics of righteous Lazarus were found in the 9th century here in the city of Kition, where they lay in the ground in a marble ark on which was written: “Lazarus of the four days, friend of God.” At the same time, a temple was built over the relics in an ancient rare architectural style.

The image in the basement of the temple near the tomb The relics of St. Lazarus were first discovered in 890. On the sarcophagus there was the inscription “Lazarus, who was dead for four days, Friend of Christ.”

Iconostasis of the Church of St. Lazarus The iconostasis that we see today dates back to the 18th century. It is made with amazing skill and is one of the best examples of wood carving in Cyprus. The iconostasis contains 120 icons, mostly from the 18th century, in Byzantine writing. There are also ancient icons.

Ark with the relics of Saint Lazarus

Reliquary with the holy relics of Lazarus the Fourth Day

Icon of the Resurrection (Descent into Hell) in front of the iconostasis John 11:17-44. The resurrection of Lazarus is remembered by the Church on Saturday of the 6th week (Lazarus Saturday) of Great Lent. This miracle was one of greatest miracles Lord Jesus Christ: it most clearly testified to His Divine omnipotence and His dominion over death, and at the same time served as a living sign of our general resurrection and a prototype of the resurrection of the Lord Himself.

Saint Bishop Lazarus with the sisters Martha and Mary The Jewish leaders, overcome by envy, wanted to kill Saint Lazarus, and he was forced to leave for the island of Cyprus, where he was ordained bishop. After his resurrection, he lived another 30 years, working hard to spread Christianity in Cyprus. And here he died peacefully. According to legend, Saint Lazarus, being a bishop (he was ordained by the apostles Paul and Barnabas), was honored with a visit to the Mother of God and received from Her an omophorion made by Her Most Pure hands.

Icon in the Church of the Holy Righteous Lazarus

Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Icon of the Mother of God of Kykkos

Let us pray, people, with boldness to the Merciful Queen Theotokos, and tenderly call upon Her: send down, O Lady, Thy rich mercies, preserving Thy sinful servants in health and prosperity. Heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing and help the needy. And grant us, O Most Merciful One, to end this earthly life piously, to receive a Christian shameless death and to inherit the Heavenly Kingdom. Deliver our city from every evil situation, protecting it with Your merciful intercession. Grant peace and seek salvation for our souls. (troparion)

O Most Holy and Blessed Mother of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Merciful Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary!
Falling before the saints and the miraculous icon Yours, we humbly pray to You, our Good and Merciful Intercessor: listen to the voice of our sinful prayers, do not despise the sighs from the soul, seeing the sorrows and misfortunes that have befallen us, and like a truly loving Mother, trying to help us helpless, sad, fallen into many and serious sins and to those who ever anger our Lord and Creator, pray to Him, our Representative, not to destroy us with our iniquities, but to show us His philanthropic mercy. Ask us, Lady, from His goodness, bodily health and spiritual salvation, a pious and peaceful life, fruitfulness of the earth, goodness of the air, well-timed rains and reverence from above for all our good deeds and undertakings, and as of old you mercifully looked upon the humble doxology of the novice of Athonite. , who sang a song of praise to You before Your Most Pure Icon, and You sent the Archangel Gabriel to him to teach him to sing the heavenly song with which the Angels of the mountain glorify You, graciously accept our prayer now fervently offered to You, and bring it to Your Son and God, may He be merciful He will be a sinner for us, and He will add His mercy to all who honor Thee and worship Thy Holy image with faith.

O All-Merciful Queen, All-merciful Mother of God, stretch out your God-bearing hands to Him, in His image, as if you were carrying a baby, and beg Him to save us all and deliver us from eternal destruction. Show us, O Lady, Your generosity: heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, help the needy: make us all prosperous to bear the yoke of Christ in patience and humility, grant us a pious end to this earthly life, to receive a Christian shameless death, and to inherit the Heavenly Kingdom, through Your maternal intercession to To Christ our God, who was born from You, to Him with His Originless Father and the Most Holy Spirit, befits all glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Revered image "The Resurrection of Righteous Lazarus"

Ancient icon of Saint Lazarus Saint righteous Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary, lived with his sisters not far from Jerusalem, in the village of Bethany. Lazarus and his sisters received special favor from the Lord Jesus Christ (John 11:3.). During His earthly life, the Lord often visited their home in Bethany, called Lazarus His friend (John 11:11), and shortly before His suffering He raised Lazarus from the dead, after he had already been in the tomb for four days1). After this event, Lazarus is mentioned only once more in Holy Scripture, and it was when, 6 days before Easter, the Lord came again to Bethany, the resurrected Lazarus was there (John 12:1-2). While the Lord was in Bethany, many of the Jews learned that He was there, and came not only for Jesus Christ, but to see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. Many of them became convinced of the truth of the miracle performed by the Lord, turned to faith in Him and became His followers. Seeing this, the high priests immediately decided to kill Lazarus (John 12:9-11.).

Icon of Saint Lazarus with Life

Easter Day The Church of St. Lazarus is considered one of the most beautiful on the island. The very first church on this site was built by Saint Lazarus himself. The current Temple dates back to the end of the 9th century. For a long time, Christians making pilgrimages to the Holy Land considered it obligatory to visit the Temple. The main Christian shrine of Larnaca is the Church of St. Lazarou - located on Agiou Lazarou Square, two blocks west of the embankment. This place is revered by Christians all over the world: here is the tomb and part of the relics of St. Lazarus the Four-Days, Bishop of Kitia - the same one whom Christ raised from the dead four days after his death.

With vintage Christian churches There are many stories and legends associated with it. One of the most wonderful and beautiful belongs to the Church of St. Lazarus in Cyprus. The righteous Lazarus was a friend of Jesus Christ. When he died of illness, Jesus raised him on the fourth day after his burial. That is why Lazarus is also called the Four-Day Lazarus. Having learned about such a miracle, the Jews wanted to kill Lazarus and he had to flee from Jerusalem.

Together with other disciples of Jesus, he went to Cyprus. Upon arrival on the island, Lazarus was elevated to bishop by the holy apostles ancient city Kition, where he lived for 30 years. After his death, Lazarus was buried in a marble tomb. Five centuries later, the Byzantine emperor Leo IV the Wise ordered the construction of a stone church on the burial site of Lazarus.

Serving good

Saint Lazarus was considered the patron saint of the city of Larnaca, and his temple was the cultural, educational, social and religious center of this city. For two and a half centuries, the church founded schools, hospitals and looked after cemeteries. She paid for the education of students, supported those in need and always defended the interests of the townspeople. According to historians, such intense activity was atypical for most Cypriot churches at the time.

Church of St. Lazarus - from antiquity to the present day

The stone temple had 3 domes, with which two legends are associated. The first says that during the war with the Turks, a Turkish officer arrived on the island and mistook the domes of the church for the domes of a mosque. After praying, he drove closer to the temple, realized that he had made a mistake and ordered the domes to be demolished. The second version attributes the absence of domes to an ordinary earthquake.

The Church of St. Lazarus at one time was even a Benedictine monastery and was considered the property of the Roman Catholic Church. This happened during the Venetian occupation of Cyprus. However, in 1589, Cyprus passed to the Turks and the Orthodox Church managed to buy the temple from them for 3,000 silver coins.

Around 1750, Bishop Makarios I of Kition ordered the restoration of the Church of St. Lazarus and the addition of an arcade. Subsequently, the temple was restored several times, but this particular work was the most extensive. The temple has survived in this form to this day. During the next restoration in 1972, several relics of the saint were found. They were placed in a gilded shrine, which is located in the center of the temple next to the southern column under the altar.

Attractions of the shrine

The Byzantine architecture of the temple is so original and beautiful that it made an indelible impression on travelers of those times. The iconostasis of the church, made of carved wood, is a real treasure. It was created by the most talented woodcarver Hadji Savvas Taliadoros. The work took him 9 years. The finished iconostasis was covered with gold and decorated with 120 icons of various sizes. Each of them is a priceless work of art. The altar and the bishop's seat are decorated with beautiful carvings.

Believers who want to venerate the saint go down to the sub-tartar part, where a shrine with his relics is displayed for public viewing. At the entrance to this room, near the eastern wall of the church, there is a holy spring. There are also tombs from the Roman period.

Next to the central altar there is a small chapel where the Latin altar has been preserved. A special treasure of the Church of St. Lazarus is the Byzantine icons, which depict the saint himself and scenes from his life.

Near the northern entrance to the church you can see the ancient emblem of the Latins - the Jerusalem Cross. In the southwestern part of the buildings is the Museum of St. Lazarus. It contains religious objects of Byzantine culture - ancient books, icons, an ancient Gospel, church utensils, vestments and much more. Next to the museum there is a church shop where they sell icons depicting St. Lazarus, copies of Byzantine letters, books and much more.

Archaeologists have found that in past centuries even the walls of the stone temple were decorated with many frescoes. Unfortunately, there is nothing left of them - the high humidity is to blame.

Features of visiting the Church of St. Lazarus

Having decided to visit the temple, you should adhere to established rules. Women are not allowed to enter church in shorts, short skirts, with bare shoulders and in too-tight clothes. During the service, women and men must sit separately. The place for men is on the right side of the temple, and for women - on the left. In the temple you are not allowed to talk, disturb believers, or take photographs or film the service.

There is a very beautiful custom of weddings in the Church of St. Lazarus. Many travel agencies offer lovers to consecrate their marriage in one of the most famous shrines of Christianity. Newlyweds from all over the world come here to seek divine support and swear eternal love to each other.

Opening hours

• September-March: 08:00-12:30, 14:30-17:00; April-August: 08:00-13:30, 15:30-18:30.

Address

• Larnaca, Plateia Agiou Lazarou.

Navigator coordinates

• Square in front of the church 34.911436 33.635438

Photo album

The Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca is famous all over the world. It was founded in Byzantine period, in 898. This active temple, its doors are open daily to visitors and believers. Pilgrims from many countries come to Cyprus to see the city, whose history is inextricably linked with Zeno, the Stoic philosopher, Saint Lazarus, who arrived on the island in an attempt to escape persecution in Judea, and the Athenian general Cimon, who fought for the freedom of Cyprus.

The life of the Great Saint of Bethany influenced local traditions and customs, because he, as the first bishop of Kitia, spent a lot of time preaching to the inhabitants the basics of the Christian religion. The temple, which was built on the site of his burial in Cyprus, is considered the most important religious monument in Larnaca.

History of the temple

When Lazarus died of illness, Jesus was in a different place. And then, when he came and found out about everything, he raised Lazarus on the fourth day after his death. Because of this, they began to call him the Four-Day. When the Jews heard about the great miracle, they chose to kill Lazarus, but the saint managed to escape from Jerusalem. He arrived in Cyprus with the rest of Jesus' disciples and received the rank of Bishop of Kition. Here on the island, Lazarus lived for another 30 years. He was buried in a marble tomb. After five hundred years, a church was built on this site.

In the seventh century, the saint's grave was lost, since Cyprus was then ruled by the Arabs. It was discovered in 890. The tomb was identified by the words “Lazarus the Fourth Day, friend of Christ” engraved on it. In the XIII – XVI centuries. The temple was placed under the control of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the ninth century, Leo VI the Wise, ruler of Byzantium, erected a church over the burial site in order to be able to transport the relics of Lazarus to the capital of his state, Constantinople. The shape of this structure is rectangular; three domes were located in succession in its vault, but they are no longer there. The emblem of the Catholic Church of Cyprus installed above the entrance means that from the 12th to the 16th centuries the building belonged to Catholics. In 1571, the Ottomans destroyed the bell tower and all three domes, and then, 18 years later, sold the temple Orthodox Church. After which, Catholic and Christian services were held there for two hundred years. During the time when the Roman Catholic Church ruled the temple, a portico was added to it. In 1750 a gallery was built. On the gravestones under it there are still inscriptions that were carved on various languages. Only after the withdrawal of the Turks in 1857 did believers rebuild the bell towers again.

The role of the temple in the life of the city was quite large. In addition to the opening of hospitals and maintenance of cemeteries in Cyprus, a lot of work was carried out in the field of education. Also in early XIX centuries, only private schools operated in the cities of Larnaca and Skala; only wealthy citizens could allow their children to study there. Since 1850, the church began to open schools, the maintenance of which was fully paid for. Even today, in the courtyard behind the church, you can find the building in which the school functioned since 1857.

Legends about the life of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca

There are no written sources describing the details of the saint’s stay in Cyprus. But folk tales have reached modern times, in which information about his activities and great wisdom was passed on to subsequent generations. That's very summary some of them:

1. After being resurrected by Jesus, Saint Lazarus smiled only once. Seeing one man attempt to steal the pot, he exclaimed: “Clay steals clay!” and a smile lit up his face. What he saw in hell in the four days preceding his resurrection by Jesus did not give him cause for joy. After all, at that moment Jesus had not yet sacrificed himself to atone for the sins of mankind.
2. The history of the emergence of a large salt lake in Cyprus, not far from Larnaca, is also associated with the Great Saint. When there was a large vineyard in this place, a Saint who was passing nearby felt very thirsty and asked the owner to treat him with grapes. However, he refused the request. Then Lazarus pointed to the full basket in which grapes are usually carried and heard in response that there was salt there. For his hypocrisy and exorbitant greed, the saint turned his entire vineyard into salt Lake.
3. The most important and important legend talks about the visit of the Lady to the island, Holy Mary. Being at a distance from his like-minded people for a long time, Saint Lazarus equipped a ship to bring the Mother of Our Lord and his disciples to Cyprus. But at that moment, when the ship was already returning, the weather turned bad and storm waves moved it to the shores of Greece. There, at the Holy Mount Athos, the Mother of God began to convert pagans into Christians. But later, she still managed to come to Cyprus. She knitted the archbishop's pallium for Lazarus.
4. According to legend, at the place where Saint Lazarus was buried, a Cypriot icon was found in 392 Mother of God. It depicts someone sitting on a throne Holy Virgin Mary with the baby Christ in her arms. Nearby are angels holding branches. There are copies of this icon in many churches, even abroad.
5. The news that Saint Lazarus had settled in Cyprus reached Russia. There is a church in the Pskov monastery that is dedicated to this religious figure. In the Assumption Cathedral, located in Moscow, this image of the Virgin Mary is also known.
6. The delivery of holy relics from Kition to Constantinople is mentioned in two speeches by Aretas, Bishop of Caesarea, which he delivered in honor of this event. He describes in detail the procession that Emperor Leo VI organized to deliver the relics. A temple was erected in honor of Saint Lazarus in Constantinople, but after the city was captured by the Franks in 1204, its relics, along with other treasures, were lost. They are believed to have been transported to Marseilles and have never been found to date.

Traditionally, people attribute small wax figures and body parts to the tomb and icon of Lazarus, reminding the sufferers of healings. There are a lot of them. Sick people want to know what the icon of St. Lazarus in Cyprus symbolizes and what it helps with. But it is noticed that a variety of healings occur, which is why so many wax body parts are brought, which symbolize their complete healing. You can purchase figurines at a candle shop located nearby. They make a variety of candles there. Special, holiday sizes can be more than a meter in height, and their diameter starts from a few centimeters.

Temple structure

The Church of St. Lazarus is a three-nave structure. That is, the three interior rooms are separated from each other by rows of columns. This ancient temple in Cyprus has an amazingly beautiful carved iconostasis, created in the 18th century by a wood carver. It consists of 120 icons. Later it was plated with gold twice. It was damaged in a fire in 1970, but was subsequently carefully restored. There is also an icon of the Great Martyr George in the church.

In 1972, in a marble sarcophagus under the altar, the relics of St. Lazarus were found. On this moment they are laid to rest in a gilded reliquary. If you take the stairs down to the right of the altar into the crypt, you can look at the stone tombs and also wash yourself with holy water.

In the church museum you can look at ancient books, religious relics, documents and especially valuable ancient icons with the righteous man and other saints. Entry costs 1 euro.

additional information

There are three surviving churches in Cyprus built during the Byzantine period. The temple is one of them. Regularly, from May 1 to October 31, excursions for visitors are held absolutely free of charge in Russian. They start at 9 o'clock in the morning.

The opening hours of the temple are as follows:

• Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 08:30–12:30, 15:00–17:30;
• Sat 08:30–12:30;
• Wed, Sun - closed.

As always, when visiting religious centers, a certain dress code must be observed in the Church of St. Lazarus. Due to the fact that the temple is active, open, tight clothing is unacceptable. You cannot come in short skirts or shorts. It is necessary to cover your shoulders and knees; for this purpose, free capes are given at the entrance. During the service, women are supposed to sit on the left side of the temple, and men on the right. Photography and filming are prohibited. In the church store you can buy religious books, souvenirs and other products.

In the temple, people turn to Saint Lazarus with requests for healing, so all the icons are available. Particularly important is the icon of St. Lazarus, installed on the northern wall, the date of painting of which dates back to the 16th century. The icon of the Resurrection of Lazarus, painted in the 17th century, is also in great demand. Every year, 8 days before Easter, on the so-called Lazarus Saturday, a procession takes place in the city. Servants and believers carry the icon along the street. The Saint, revered by all, helping many to restore health, is known in different countries.

Newlyweds from many countries of the world arrive in Larnaca to consecrate their marriage in the Church of St. Lazarus in Cyprus to gain confidence in eternal love.

Since the church is located in the city center, it is easy to get to. Travel time from any area of ​​the city will take no more than 20 minutes. The duration of a visit to the temple depends on the general mood of the visitors, but you can explore it and the ancient relics in one to two hours.

Despite the fact that the church has very important historical and religious significance, and is also of some interest to tourists, attracting a huge number of pilgrims, entry to it is still free. Besides, Special attention here they pay attention to the disabled. There are chair lifts and ramps for them. Special toilets are also available. All together, this allows people whose health is seriously complicated not to feel any discomfort within these walls, and also hope for a cure for serious illnesses.

- one of the many Orthodox attractions in the city of Larnaca. The construction of the temple dates back to the mid-9th century and bears the name of the righteous saint. According to Orthodox tradition, after Jesus raised Lazarus, he left Judea and chose the island of Cyprus as his new place of residence. Soon after their arrival, Jesus' apostles Barnabas and Paul installed Lazarus as bishop of the settlement of Kition. This is what the city of Larnaca was previously called. Righteous Lazarus lived 63 years and died in Cyprus. Today, the Church stands on the site of his burial.

It should be noted that due to constant military oppression towards Cyprus, the rulers of the city more than once had to transport the relics of the righteous. As a result, some of them were given to France, another part to Constantinople, and their heads remained in Cyprus.

Today, the Church of Lazarus is one of three Byzantine churches that have survived to this day on the island. Its layout has a rectangular shape, complemented by a three-sided semicircular projection on the facade.

The interior is divided into several parts with rather wide and massive columns and arches. Initially, the temple had a bell tower located on the eastern side. However, during the reign of the Roman Catholic Church, a small but quite prominent portico, made in the neo-Gothic style, was added to the building. In addition, during the years of Turkish rule, the church was used as a mosque, as a result of which the bell tower was completely destroyed. A new bell tower was erected only in 1857.

Also a relatively new element of the temple is its iconostasis, made in the 1780s. The internal structure of the church has also undergone changes more than once. In 1792, during the reconstruction of the building, a sarcophagus with remains identified as the relics of the righteous Lazarus was discovered under the altar.

You can visit the Church of St. Lazarus with a guided tour or on your own. The temple is located on Aiu Lazaru Square. There is a Finikoudes bus stop nearby, which is accessible by almost any public transport in the city.

Photo attraction: Church of St. Lazarus