- Address: Plateia Agiou Lazarou, Larnaca, Cyprus
- Phone: +357 24 652498
- Official website: www.ayioslazaros.org
- E-mail: info@ayioslazaros.org
- Working hours: 8.00-17.00 (September-March) and 8.00-18.30 (April-August)
- Entrance fee: 1 euro
What is the most interesting sight of pictorial Cyprus, is the church of St. Lazarus. After all, this temple is not just located in the heart of Larnaca , but it is considered the most beautiful on the island. In addition, it is not out of place to add that it is here that to this day the relics of Lazarus are stored, which, according to the biblical stories, Jesus Christ resurrected.
A little history of the church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca
Larnaka is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded in the 13th century BC. Till our days traditions have reached that say that in Larnaka there lived a friend of Christ, Lazarus, who fled from Bethany from the Jewish high priests. With the arrival in Cyprus Lazarus was elevated to the rank of bishop of Kitijski. Here he built a small church, in which he ruled the service. 30 years after his resurrection from the dead, Lazar died at the age of 60.
He was buried in the church, which began to be called Larnax. On the site of this temple in 890 the emperor of Byzantium Leo IV the Wise erected a new one. For 12 centuries, a sample of Byzantine architecture was destroyed and rebuilt many times. And in 1571 from the Catholics he passed into the possession of the Turks. In 1589, the Orthodox church was bought. In 1750 an open gallery was added to the church, and a four-tier bell tower appeared in 1857.
The 18th century for the Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca was marked by a new iconostasis, decorated with magnificent wood carvings, the creation of the hands of master Hadji Savvas Taliodoros. Icons, and there are 120 of them in the temple, Hadji Mikhail wrote.
In the 1970s, restoration work was carried out, in the process of which stone tombs were found under the altar part of the temple, one of which contained the relics of Lazarus. Now they are stored in silver cancers and are exposed at the southern column in the central part of the building.
The beauty of the church of St. Lazarus
With a view of the temple is not remarkable, but it is enough to enter into it - and you do not find words to describe the beauty of this building. The first thing that attracts attention is the lacy gilded iconostasis, a sample of the oldest baroque carving on wood. It is impossible not to admire the most valuable icon, dating from 1734, which depicts Lazar himself.
The temple is about 35 meters long and consists of three naves: central, side rooms and three domes located on the middle nave. It should be noted that the church belongs to a rare architectural style and has a number of differences from multi-dome structures.
It is worth mentioning that in the church shop you can buy icons of St. Lazarus. And in the south-western part of the temple complex is the Byzantine Museum.
How to visit the church?
As for visiting rules, do not forget that:
- you will not be admitted if you are wearing shorts, a miniskirt or a sweatshirt that opens your shoulders;
- during service, men sit in the right part of the temple, women in the left;
- It is not allowed to crowd in front of the iconostasis and take pictures during the church service.
You can get here both by taxi and by bus number 446, which departs from Larnaca airport .
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