Lazarus

]

Many Christians believe that the passage is not a parable at all, but a factual report, as it is the only story told by Jesus where there is no mention of it being a parable. [Luke 16:19 "There was a certain rich man...", Luke 16:20 "And there was a certain beggar..."] Another reason they believe that it is a true account is the fact the beggar's name is given (Lazarus), something not done in any of Jesus' parables.

Others say that the name is given in this case because of the Hebrew meaning "God has helped." In their view, the meaning of this story is twofold. First, as noted above, to teach that God rewards according to the state of repentance of a man's life. [Luke 16:30 indicates repentance was the key difference of the men's destinations.] Second, to teach that if people will not listen to the Bible or those preaching it, [Luke 16:29 "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."; 'Moses' being a metonymic term for the Hebrew Bible, and the prophets representing those teaching from it.] they would not listen even if someone was raised from the dead. This passage is key to the doctrine of the power of Scripture to save. [Hebrews 4:12]

Lazarus of Bethany

The miracle of Lazarus

In the Gospel of John, Lazarus, also called Lazarus of Bethany or "Lazarus of the Four Days", was a man who lived in the town of Bethany. ["Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha", ). Many of the Resurectional hymns of the normal Sunday service, which are omitted on Palm Sunday, are chanted on Lazarus Saturday. During the Divine Liturgy, the Baptismal Hymn, "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (), is sung in place of the Trisagion. Although the forty days of Great Lent end on the day before Lazarus Saturday, the day is still observed as a fast; however, it is somewhat mitigated. In Russia, it is traditional to eat caviar on Lazarus Saturday.

In the Roman Catholic Church Saint Lazarus' memorial is on June 21. In Cuba a major festival is dedicated to "San Lázaro".

He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on July 29 together with Mary and Martha.

In Christian funerals the idea of the deceased being raised by the Lord as Lazarus was raised is often expressed in prayer.

yncretism

Via syncretism, Lazarus has become an important figure in Santeria as the Yoruba deity Babalu Aye. Like the beggar of the Christian scriptures, Babalu-Aye represents someone covered with sores licked by dogs who was healed by divine intervention. [http://www.philomuse.com/kingfisher/lab/lazarus.htm Lazarus] ] [http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y98/dec98/17e2.htm "With sackcloth and rum, Cubans hail Saint Lazarus"] , December 17, 1998. Reuters news story.] Silver charms known as the crutch of St. Lazarus or standard Roman Catholic-style medals of St. Lazarus are worn as talismans to invoke the aid of the syncretized deity in cases of medical suffering, particularly for people with AIDS.

Within Christianity, the begging Lazarus of the parable (feast day June 21) and Lazarus of Bethany (feast day December 17) are often conflated, with some churches celebrating a blessing of dogs, associated with the beggar, on December 17, the date associated with Lazarus of Bethany. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2386/is_3_116/ai_n15950723/pg_7 "Money talks: folklore in the public sphere"] December 2005, "Folklore" magazine.] In Santeria, the date associated with St. Lazarus is December 17, despite Santeria's reliance on the iconography associated with the begging saint whose feast day is June 21.

In modern culture

Well-known as an established tale, Lazarus has appeared countless times in music, writing and art.
*Among the painted depictions of Lazarus is the work "Lazarus Breaking His Fast" by Walter Sickert.
*Several bands have composed songs titled "Lazarus", including Chimaira, I Am Ghost, Placebo, and Porcupine Tree.
*The song "Sleepwalk Capsules" by At the Drive-In includes the line, "Lazarus threw the party / Lazarus threw the fight."
*Lazarus is mentioned in several notable works of literature. A few prominent examples include "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot, the novels of Robert A. Heinlein, "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles, "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville, "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Walter M. Miller, Jr., and "Lady Lazarus", a poem written by Sylvia Plath.
*Lazarus is also referenced in other media, including the movie "Casper", the computer game "Diablo", the television series "The X-Files" ("Lazarus"), "Doctor Who" ("The Lazarus Experiment"), and the "Batman" comic books.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09096a.htm Lazarus] - article from the "Catholic Encyclopedia", 1910
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09097a.htm Lazarus of Bethany] - article from the "Catholic Encyclopedia"
* [http://www.serfes.org/lives/stlazarus.htm St. Lazarus, friend of Christ and first bishop of Kition, Cyprus] - Fr. Demetrios Serfes (Greek Orthodox)
* [http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=19 Lazarus Saturday] - Icon and Synaxarion
* [http://www.st-lazarus.net The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus]
* [http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/HumanDestiny/lazarus1.html The rich man and Lazarus: explanation as a parable]