Tomb of Lazarus, Sacred tomb in al-Eizariya, Palestine

The Tomb of Lazarus is a burial site carved into limestone in al-Eizariya, Palestine, located beneath the modern town surface. Stone steps lead down from two separate entrance areas into the connected chambers cut into the natural bedrock.

The tomb is documented as Lazarus's resting place from the 4th century, when Eusebius of Caesarea and the Bordeaux Pilgrim mention it. A church called the Lazarium is first recorded by Jerome in 390; Egeria describes a crowded Lenten liturgy there around 410. An earthquake destroyed it in the 6th century and a larger church replaced it. Queen Melisende built a church over the tomb in the 1138-1187 Crusader period, and the Ottomans built the al-Uzair Mosque in the 16th century using its barrel vaulting.

The site is named after Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead in the New Testament, and today draws visitors from both faiths. In the Muslim tradition he appears as al-Azir, honored as a friend of the Prophet, making the location a rare example of shared religious devotion.

The stairway is narrow and steep, so visitors with mobility concerns should move carefully when descending. Crowds gather on weekends and religious holidays, making early morning visits a better option for a quieter experience.

The outline of the former entrance can still be seen on the east wall of the antechamber, which measures 3.35 by 2.20 metres. The floor of this room lies two steps above the mosque floor, possibly because rock fell from the soft limestone ceiling when the Crusaders built above the tomb.