The Resurrection of Lazarus

Let them learn from the removal of the corpse that it was stolen and not snatched away. Roll away the stone.

And those who rolled it away did so with murmuring—as the difficult, heavy corpse urged them on—but when those present rolled away the stone, immediately the Lord cried out, saying: 'Lazarus, come out here!' (John 11:43). The Caller is Master, and no one opposes Him. 'Lazarus, come out here: instruct Martha your sister as I command and do not entreat.' 'Lazarus, come out here. Before I come down, go out; in you is the earnest money, but in me is the full amount.' 'Lazarus, come out here.' And you, hearing, O friend, 'Lazarus, come out here,' do not be such as to have caused the Lord many voices. Once he spoke and raised him whom he had fashioned; for neither did he weep like Elijah, nor did he despair like Elisha. With a single-toned voice he breathed life into the one sleeping beside him, saying: 'Lazarus, come out here.' One is the word and diverse are the wonders. Only the Lord spoke: 'Lazarus, come out here,' and immediately the flesh was being replenished, the hairs were growing back, the sinews were being joined together, the veins were being filled with pure blood.

Hades, being cut from below, was sending Lazarus forth. The soul of Lazarus, being held back and being called upon by the holy angels, was being brought back to its own. And it was more glorious for all that, being bound from every side with wax, he walked without hindrance. Therefore also the Lord more urgently exhorted the crowds present, saying: 'Loose him and let him go. See the Lord's work and how He wisely manages all things.' For the certainty of those present, He said: 'Loose him and let him go; just as you rolled away the stone and showed the tomb and partook of the smell, so loose the burial cloths: some keeping them as a blessing, others guarding them as witnesses. If the chief priests and the Pharisees disbelieve that Lazarus rose, show them the burial cloths; manifest the rags as the paralytic did his bed (Luke 5:15). And we, carrying the branches of palms, let us say: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9). To Him be the glory and the power with the all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.'

Greek

νεκροφόρου ἀποφορᾶς μάθωσιν ὅτι ἐσάπη καὶ οὐκ ἐκλάπη. Ἀποκυλίσατε τὸν λίθον. 2 Τῶν δὲ ἀποκυλισάντων μετὰ γογγυσμοῦ– ἐδρίμυττεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἡ νεκροφόρος δυσήνιος ἀποφορά–, ἀποκυλισάντων δὲ τῶν παρόντων τὸν λίθον, εὐθέως ἐβόησεν ὁ κύριος λέγων· Λάζαρε δεῦρο ἔξω. ∆εσπότης ὁ καλῶν, οὐδεὶς ὁ ἀντιλέγων. Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω· πληροφόρησον Μάρθαν τὴν ἀδελφήν σου ὡς κελεύω καὶ οὐχ ἱκετεύω. Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω. Πρὸ τοῦ κατέλθω, ἔξελθε· ἐν σοὶ τὸν ἀρραβῶνα, ἐν ἐμοὶ δὲ τὸ τέλειον. Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω. Σὺ δὲ ἀκούων, ὦ φίλε, Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω, μὴ οἴου τὸν κύριον πολλὰς φωνὰς βεβληκέναι. Ἅπαξ ἐλάλησε καὶ ὃν ἔπλασεν ἤγειρεν· οὔτε γὰρ ὡς Ἠλίας ἔκλαυσεν οὔτε ὡς Ἐλισσαῖος ἠπόρησε. Μονοφθόγγῳ φωνῇ διύπνισε τὸν παρ' αὐτῷ καθεύδοντα εἰπών· Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω. Εἷς ὁ λόγος καὶ διάφορα τὰ θαύματα. Μόνον ὁ κύριος ἐφώνησε· Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω, καὶ εὐθέως αἱ σάρκες ἀπεπληροῦντο, αἱ τρίχες ἀντεφυτεύοντο, αἱ ἁρμονίαι συνεδεσ μοῦντο, αἱ φλέβες καθαρῷ αἵματι ἀντεγεμίζοντο. Ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν κοπτόμενος τὸν Λάζαρον προέπεμπεν. Ἡ ψυχὴ Λαζάρου παρακρατουμένη καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἁγίων ἀγγέλων παρακαλουμένη τὸ ἴδιον εἰς τὸ ἴδιον μετεχωνεύετο. Καὶ τὸ πάντων ἐνδοξότερον ἦν ὅτι πανταχόθεν δεδεμένος ἦν τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὴν ὄψιν κηρίαις καὶ ἀνεμποδίστως ἐβάδιζεν. ∆ιὸ καὶ ὁ κύριος δραστικώτερον πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας ὄχλους παρεκελεύετο λέγων· Λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἄφετε ὑπάγειν. Βλέπε τὴν τοῦ κυρίου πραγματείαν καὶ πῶς τὰ πάντα σοφῶς οἰκονομεῖ. Πρὸς πληροφορίαν τῶν παρόντων ἔλεγε· Λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἄφετε ὑπάγειν· ὡς τὸν λίθον ἀπεκυλίσατε καὶ τὸν τάφον ὑπεδείξατε καὶ τῆς ὀσφρήσεως μετήσχετε, καὶ τὰ νεκροτάφια λύσατε· τὸ μὲν ὡς εὐλογίαν τηροῦντες, τὸ δὲ ὡς μάρτυρες φυλάττοντες. Ἐὰν ἀπιστήσωσιν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ φαρισαῖοι ὡς οὐκ ἀνέστη Λάζαρος, δείξατε τὰ νεκροτάφια· ἐμφανίσατε τὰ σουδάρια ὡς ὁ παράλυτος τὸν κράβαττον. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων βαστάζοντες εἴπωμεν· Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις· εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου. Αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος σὺν τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ζωοποιῷ πνεύματι νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. 3

About this text

A bishop's powerful reflection on the resurrection of Lazarus and the faith that challenges doubt.

Catalogue & scope

Khazarzar scan

Witnesses

Copy-text PG 39 (Khazarzar) (Greek)

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.