Lazarus Tomb

This is Lazarus' Tomb

Bethany lies 2 miles east of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and on the road to Jericho. The home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, whom Jesus loved. It seems that the tomb of Lazarus was hewn in the rock within a cave. No wonder Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus come forth' (John 11a;5).

There are 22 steps that lead down to a dark cave which is the traditional home of Lazarus. The original entrance which must have been at ground level, was sealed by the Moslems who built a mosque between the church and the tomb. In the 17th century, the Franciscans obtained permission to make this new entrance which still leads down to the tomb.