Akathist of the Raising of Lazarus

For all Akathists published on our site, click here. This Akathist was contributed by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance. See bottom for original source. Click here for more Akathists preparing for death and remembering the reposed. Click here for more Akathists to Christ and the Holy Trinity. Click here for more Akathists to New Testament Saints.

Feast Day: The Saturday of Lazarus

Kontakion 1

Lord, victorious King over hell, having power over death, You raised Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, and You have granted joy, light, and resurrection to all. Therefore, we the unworthy, for the miracle wrought in Bethany, give You thanks, singing: Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Ikos 1

O Most Sweet Jesus, the angelic powers rejoiced at Your coming to Bethany; for having been driven out everywhere by the wickedness of the Jews and having nowhere to lay Your head, after the toil of preaching the Good News, You always found rest, peace, love, and peace of mind with Your friend Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary; You loved them to the end, just as You loved the apostles, because they always served You with faith and love, heeding Your word. And we, remembering these things, sing to You with a humble heart:

Jesus, eternal love, You who out of love for mankind humbled Yourself even unto death;

Jesus, boundless mercy, You who received Lazarus and his sisters into Your love;

Jesus, You who blessed the house of Lazarus during the days of Your coming in the flesh;

Jesus, You who nourished, through the divine word, the souls of those who received You with joy;

Jesus, You who chose Bethany, Lazarus’s homeland, to rest and dine;

Jesus, You who, before Your crucifixion, revealed Your spiritual love and divine power in Bethany;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 2

Seeing that their brother Lazarus was suffering from a grave illness, Martha and Mary, without falling into despair or giving in to sorrow, sent messengers to You, O Lord, the Healer of all diseases, and said with faith: “Lord, the one You love is sick.” Therefore, following their example, we pray that You will not leave us in despair, so that we may praise You, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

Lord, Your disciples, though they had pure minds, did not understand why You did not go immediately to Bethany to heal Your friend Lazarus when You learned of his illness, but You said to those sent by Martha and Mary: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that through it the Son of God may be glorified.” And we, seeing now that You wished to reveal to them the depth of the mysterious faith and to perform a most glorious miracle before Your Passion, sing to You with love:

Jesus, True Love, You who tested the loving hearts of the holy women Martha and Mary;

Jesus, Most Good One, You who turned Lazarus’s illness into the hope of the resurrection, into the praise of children, and into divine glory;

Jesus, the Miracle-Worker, You who, through the resurrection of Lazarus, desired to reveal the glory of God to all the world;

Jesus, Almighty One, You who desired to reveal the power of Your Divinity in Bethany;

Jesus, All-Knowing One, You who commanded Lazarus’s sisters not to grieve over their brother’s death;

Jesus, Conqueror of death, You who willingly went to Your death and showed Your disciples victory over death;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 3

All-knowing Jesus, knowing, as God, that the suffering of the Cross lay before You, You revealed Your power through the raising of Lazarus, so that Your disciples might not be terrified by Your Passion but might understand Your Resurrection from the dead. For this reason, hearing that Your friend Lazarus was ill, You did not hasten to heal him, but remained in the same place for two days, and his sisters, Martha and Mary, who loved God, though they saw their brother’s death, remained faithful to You, and glorified God, Who had heard You, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

Most gracious Lord, as an all-knowing God, You said to Your disciples: “Let us go to Judea again,” then You added: “Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep. I am going to wake him up.” But the disciples did not understand, thinking You were speaking of the sleep of the body; therefore You said to them: “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you might believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas, seeing that the disciples were afraid to go to Judea, because the Jews were seeking to stone You to death, said boldly to the other apostles: “Let us also go and die with Him,” teaching us to follow You without fear and to sing thus:

Jesus, friend of Lazarus, You who came to raise him from the sleep of death;

Jesus, the praise of Bethany, You who raised Lazarus to the joy of the resurrection;

Jesus, Unspeakable Love, You who heard the weeping and sighing of Lazarus’ sisters;

Jesus, Endless Mercy, You who deigned to raise people from the death of sin;

Jesus, the Resurrection of all, You who raised me also from sin;

Jesus, the Merciful One, receive my sighs as You received the tears of Martha and Mary;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 4

Martha and Mary, filled with doubt, wept bitterly at the tomb of Lazarus, their brother. But You, Lord, coming from across the Jordan, said to Your disciples: “I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you might believe that I can do all things, being the Son of God.” Let us go and raise him, so that death may taste this victory and utter destruction, and the faithful may sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Hearing that You, O Lord, had come to Bethany, with Lazarus having been in the tomb for four days, Saint Martha went out to meet You, and speaking to You, she sought comfort, saying: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” And we, seeing the faith of Lazarus’s sister, with humility in our hearts, sing:

Jesus, You who raised the dead man of four days, look upon me too, who am in the tomb of despair;

Jesus, You who came to Bethany to comfort the grieving sisters, receive me too, the lost one;

Jesus, You who comforted Martha with Your word, comfort me too, the one grieved by the sins I have committed;

Jesus, You who did not forget Mary, who remained at home, do not forget me either, who have fallen into sorrow;

Jesus, You who conquered the power of death, make me also a conqueror over sin;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 5

Your prophecy, O Lord, was like a star dispelling the darkness of the night, for You, as Lord of life and death, said to Martha: “Your brother will rise again.” She, who had heard only of the general resurrection, doubted that her brother could rise now and rise from the dead, according to Your word, and said: “I know that he will rise at the resurrection on the last day.” We, however, praise You, the Conqueror of death, You who are Yourself the Resurrection and the Life, and we sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Seeing that Martha’s heart was grieved over the death of her brother, Lazarus, and that she could not believe You had the power to raise him from the dead, O Lord, to dispel her unbelief, You said: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.” Therefore, understanding this promise and desiring to inherit eternal life, we sing with hope:

Jesus, You who came to Bethany to preach the resurrection, raise me up as well, I who lie in sin;

Jesus, You who foretold to Martha the resurrection of Lazarus, call me too, who lie in sin;

Jesus, You who renewed Martha’s faith in the resurrection, renew my soul, which has been killed by transgressions;

Jesus, You who have called us all to the light of life, enlighten our lives darkened by our many sins;

Jesus, You who reign over the living and the dead, do not leave me in the depths of the earth;

Jesus, You who have granted us eternal life, grant me also a blessed inheritance in heaven;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, reveal Your Resurrection to us!

Kontakion 6

Confessing faith in Your divine omnipotence, Christ, Saint Martha, like the Apostle Peter, proclaimed You the Son of God. So when You asked her if she had faith, that whoever believes in You, even if they die, will live, she said to You: “Yes, Lord. I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.” And we, understanding this confession, with faith and love, sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

When Martha came to her sister, Mary, to tell her of Your coming, O Lord, to the town of Bethany, she said: “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And she, heeding the call, enlightened by faith and hope, rose and came at once and fell at Your feet, worshiping You; then, seeking comfort, she said:

Jesus, the Giver of life, You are our resurrection;

Jesus, Destroyer of death, You came to raise Lazarus from the tomb;

Jesus, Good Comforter, comfort my sorrowful soul;

Jesus, Good Shepherd, lead me to Your spiritual pasture;

Jesus, Hope of the hopeless, help me to carry my cross with the hope of eternal joy;

Jesus, Refuge of the poor, calm my sorrowful soul;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 7

Mary, wishing to express all her grief for Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, yet also desiring to show her love for You, Lord, humbly fell at Your feet. Then, seeing her weep, You too sighed in spirit, You were moved as a man and shed tears, and we, who are in distress, falling before You, sigh and humbly sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Great and inexpressible forbearance and love for mankind You have shown, Most Sweet Jesus, for knowing Mary’s sorrow of soul, You Yourself wept. Some of the Jews, seeing Your sorrow for Lazarus, said: “Behold how much He loved him!” Others, however, with hardened hearts and souls, refused to understand Your divine mercy and said, laughing: “Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have done so that Lazarus might not die?” We, however, glorify Your love for mankind and sing to You:

Jesus, You who shed tears for Lazarus, cleanse my sins;

Jesus, You who comforted Martha and Mary, soothe the sorrow of my soul;

Jesus, You who created man, grant my soul peace;

Jesus, You who are the unwaning light, enlighten the torch of my soul;

Jesus, You who are long-suffering, grant me patience in trials and struggles;

Jesus, You who are our joy, deliver me from the sorrow caused by trials and tribulations;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 8

Christ the Savior, Your question seemed strange to those who were weeping for Lazarus, when You asked, “Where have you laid him?” Being the all-knowing God, You had foreseen his death, and yet, did You not know where he was buried? But You did not ask as one who did not know; rather, You spoke as a man, desiring to comfort Lazarus’s grieving sisters, to urge people to do what they can and what they know, while You, as God, would perform what is beyond nature. Therefore, glorifying Your love for mankind, we sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

You were love in every way, You were mercy in every way, Lord Jesus, for when You came to Lazarus’s tomb, You commanded that the stone be removed from the tomb, though they did not know what would follow. That is why Martha, showing limited faith, said: “Lord, he has already been dead for four days.” But You, strengthening her again, said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” And Mary, seeing the stone rolled away from the tomb, kept her faith in silence, and said:

Jesus, You who came to the tomb of Your friend, cleanse my heart of doubts;

Jesus, You who showed us the glory of God, deliver my heart from all temptations;

Jesus, You who commanded the stone to be lifted from Lazarus’s tomb, lift also the stone of despair from my heart;

Jesus, You who terrified all the powers of hell with Your word, do not terrify me with the manifestation of Your glory;

Jesus, You who stood gently at Lazarus’s tomb, make me worthy, with a pure heart, to feel Your coming;

Jesus, You who saw human nature in its corruption, grant me to receive Your incorruptible grace;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 9

Truly, You have performed a most glorious miracle, O Lord, for by revealing Your glory as the Only-Begotten of the Father, You gave thanks to Him before the multitudes, saying: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me!” Then You cried out: “Lazarus, come out!” Then the lifeless one, hearing the command of his Creator, immediately came out of the tomb, supernaturally, with his face covered, bound at the hands and feet. So, seeing this miracle, all were filled with joy, glorifying You, the Conqueror of death, and singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Eloquent orators cannot worthily praise the great and awesome miracle You performed, O Lord, by which You raised Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, from the tomb. It strengthened Martha and Mary in the hope of the resurrection and the immortality of the soul, and, along with them, all of us. For this reason, many Jews, coming to Mary to comfort her over her brother’s death and seeing the miracle performed in Bethany, believed in You as the Son of God and joyfully offered You such praises as these:

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, raise me also, who am dead in my passions;

Jesus, You who freed Your friend from the bonds of death, free me also from the bonds of evil habits;

Jesus, You who called Lazarus out of the tomb, bring me too out of the pit of destruction;

Jesus, You who rescued Your beloved friend from the abyss of hell, protect me too from eternal darkness;

Jesus, You who raised with Your word the one who reeked of decay, renew me too with Your grace, I who am corrupted by sin;

Jesus, You who defeated the power of death, grant that I too may be victorious in the unseen battle;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 10

Lord Jesus Christ, You who desire to save all people, You showed a great sign to those who sought a sign from heaven when, at Your word, Lazarus, who had died, rose from the tomb with his body wrapped in linen and his face covered. Yet the children of darkness refused to believe in You because of the hardness of their hearts, and some of them went to the chief priests and the Pharisees and told them about the miracle that had taken place in Bethany. We, however, believing through this in the universal Resurrection, to You, the Giver of life and our Savior, we sing with a loud voice: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

O eternal King, Jesus, the chief priests of the Jews, hearing of the awesome miracle You performed in Bethany, took counsel against You, saying, “What shall we do, for this Man performs many miracles?” Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” So, on that very day, they plotted to kill You, Christ, and also Lazarus, because after his resurrection many of the Jews believed in You. Therefore, we sing to You:

Jesus, Son of God, like an innocent lamb, You prepared Yourself for sacrifice;

Jesus, our Savior, the One condemned by men, by Caiaphas and by Pilate, You willingly came into the world to suffer for mankind;

Jesus, the One who was sentenced to death, together with Lazarus, by a gathering of the wicked, do not condemn me at Your judgment;

Jesus, You who were joyfully received into the house of Mary and Martha, receive me also into Your Kingdom;

Jesus, You who prepared Your Passion in Bethany, protect us also with the power of Your Cross;

Jesus, You who will come in glory to render righteous judgment, You terrified the crafty Pharisees with Your miracles;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 11

A song of humility is offered to You by faithful Bethany, our Savior, for You turned her sorrow for Lazarus, Your friend, into joy by raising him from the tomb, and, so that You might not be seized by Your enemies, You departed, together with Your disciples, for a short time, to the city of Ephraim, near the wilderness, because the chief priests had ordered that You be arrested. We, however, marveling at Your care for Your disciples before Your Passion, sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

A great and ineffable light shone in Bethany, six days before Easter, when You came to this place, merciful Jesus, where those who loved You prepared a supper for You, remembering with joy and gratitude the resurrection of Lazarus. Martha served You again, and Mary, with joy and gratitude, taking a pound of pure, precious nard, anointed Your feet and wiped them with her hair, and the house was filled with a sweet fragrance. So we too, filled with the joy of those who were present, humbly sing to You:

Jesus, You who dined with Lazarus in Bethany, grant that I may share more fully in You on the day of Your Kingdom that never ends;

Jesus, You who filled Lazarus with heavenly joy, grant me the joy of Your salvation;

Jesus, You who deemed Martha the diligent one worthy to serve You, receive me also, who come to You in repentance;

Jesus, You who deemed Mary worthy to anoint Your feet with ointment, grant me also the spirit of divine love;

Jesus, You who brought joy to Bethany by Your coming to the supper, share with me the joy of Your grace;

Jesus, You who, through the raising of Lazarus, comforted Martha and Mary as they wept, grant me also heavenly and eternal comfort;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, reveal Your Resurrection to us!

Kontakion 12

Christ, our God, in Jerusalem Your enemies met You with mockery, hatred, and envy. But in Bethany, through the raising of Lazarus, You bestowed abundant grace, love, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For this, may your praise be everlasting, O city of Bethany, for you were deemed worthy to receive the Creator at supper, and we, together with you, sing to the Lord, Who has greatly exalted you: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Singing of the resurrection of Lazarus, we praise Your miracles, Jesus; we glorify Your almighty power, Your coming down to us, and Your ineffable love for mankind; and we believe, with Martha, that You are truly Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world; We listen to You, together with Mary, sitting at Your feet, and we heed Your word; and through the prayers of the righteous Lazarus, Your friend, we hope to reach the day of Your Resurrection, so that we may sing to You:

Jesus, You who have conquered hell, deliver me, a sinner, from eternal torment;

Jesus, You who have raised the dead, raise me also from the tomb of spiritual insensitivity;

Jesus, You who revealed Your human nature through Your journey on earth, through speaking with people, and through tears, forgive me who have sinned as a human being;

Jesus, You who revealed Your divine nature through the resurrection of the dead and various miracles, heal the wounds of my soul;

Jesus, You who have assured us of the universal resurrection, accept our praises as the palm branches in the hands of children;

Jesus, You who dwell in heaven and live on earth with men, blessed are You who come in the name of the Lord;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 13

O Most Sweet Jesus, Joy of all, Gentle Light, our Life and Resurrection, just as You received thanksgiving from Martha and Mary, receive also from us, for the resurrection of Lazarus, this humble praise, which we offer to You with all our hearts; protect us from every fall into sin and from eternal death, making us partakers of the Resurrection through Your almighty word, and make us worthy to receive an imperishable inheritance in heaven, that we may sing to You with all the Saints: Alleluia!

This Kontakion is sung three times.

After this, Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are sung again, which you will find below.

Ikos 1

Jesus, eternal love, You who out of love for mankind humbled Yourself even unto death;

Jesus, boundless mercy, You who received Lazarus and his sisters into Your love;

Jesus, You who blessed the house of Lazarus during the days of Your coming in the flesh;

Jesus, You who nourished, through the divine word, the souls of those who received You with joy;

Jesus, You who chose Bethany, Lazarus’s homeland, to rest and dine;

Jesus, You who, before Your crucifixion, revealed Your spiritual love and divine power in Bethany;

Jesus, You who raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, show us Your Resurrection!

Kontakion 1

Prayer from the Akathist of the Resurrection of Saint Lazarus the Righteous

Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, You who are inexhaustibly rich in mercy, goodness, and love, You who are alien to death and sin and who placed our forefathers in Paradise to share in eternal, holy, and blessed life, and, after sin entered the world through the work of the devil, and death through sin, then, through Your ineffable love for mankind, You came so that, through Your Cross and Resurrection, You might deliver from the abyss of hell and from eternal death those who have sinned against You.

You, when the time was fulfilled, Good Shepherd, became incarnate to seek out Your lost sheep.

Before the Cross and Your voluntary Passion, You came to Bethany, where, with a single word, You called Lazarus—Your friend who had been dead and buried for four days—out of the tomb and raised him from the dead. Thus, through this great miracle, You shook the power of death before Your life-giving death, foreshadowing Your speedy Resurrection, and You assured us, through Your power, that You would conquer the kingdom of hell and show us the universal resurrection.

For this reason, together with Martha and Mary, grant that we too may rejoice in a radiant manner and celebrate Your coming to Bethany. Make us worthy to receive You with a pure soul and an untainted mind, with a good heart and humble thoughts; may we overcome cunning pride and receive You into our hearts with faith; just as Mary, to anoint Your most pure feet with the myrrh of love for God, and with full diligence, just as Martha, to serve You, partaking of Your gifts and, above all, of Your most pure Body and Your precious Blood, for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life, so that, passing from this life enlightened and adorned, we may await Your coming on the clouds of heaven, to meet You in the air and thus be with You, Lord, the One Holy One of the Holy Trinity, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!

Then the dismissal is given: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: https://ortodox.md/acatistul-invierii-sfantului-si-dreptului-lazar/