St. Lazarus Roman Catholic Church, al-Eizariya
| Church of Saint Lazarus | |
|---|---|
St. Lazarus Roman Catholic Church
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| Basic information | |
| Location |
 al-Eizariya
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| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Year consecrated | 1954 |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Antonio Barluzzi |
| Completed | 1955 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 17.7 metres (58 ft) |
| Width (nave) | 7.7 metres (25 ft) |
In 1863, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land gained title to a plot of ground close to the tomb of Lazarus. Other areas were acquired later. Between 1952 and 1955, a modern church dedicated to St. Lazarus was built on this property over the remnants of the former Byzantine and Crusader east churches. The courtyard of this church stands over the west end of the older churches. Parts of the original mosaic floor are still visible here. The west wall of the courtyard contains the west facade of the 6th century basilica, as well as its three doorways. About twenty-five metres up a hill northwest of the church is the modern entrance to the Tomb of Lazarus.
The architect of the modern church was the Italian Antonio Barluzzi. The church is set in a cruciform pattern and stands over the east end of the older churches. "Its walls are almost hermetically sealed and windowless. The dome is solidly incorporated into octagonal drum overhead. All this suggests a subterranean vault, lonely as a grave... The soaring higher elements, crowned by the dome with its flood of light, suggests the joy of intense hope and optimism.
Visitors can view parts of the apse of the Lazarium through trapdoors in the floor, just inside the main entrance. The modern church includes a facade mosaic depicting Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; and the interior is decorated with polished stone and mosaics. The designs for the mosaics of the church were done by Cesare Vagarini. The work itself was carried out by the firm of Monticelli of Rome, which was also responsible for the mosaic decoration in the churches in Tabor and Gethsemane.
Coordinates: 31°46′18″N 35°15′23.15″E / 31.77167°N 35.2564306°E
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