LAZARUS SATURDAY, PALM SUNDAY

Vespers for the Raising of Lazarus

Now that we have finished the forty-day fast of Lent, let us cry out: “We salute you, O city of Bethany; rejoice, O hometown of Lazarus! Rejoice, Martha and Mary, his sisters! Tomorrow, Christ will come, and by His word will revive your brother who has died. At the sound of the Lord’s voice, Hades, bitter and insatiable, will shudder in fear, and it will heave a great sigh, and it will release Lazarus, still bound with bandages. The Hebrew crowds will be amazed by the miracle, and they will go out to meet Jesus with palms and branches; and children, whose elders envy Him, will see Him and sing His praises: ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”

You stood at the gravesite of Lazarus, O our Savior, and You called to the dead man, and You raised him from the dead as if from sleep. He shook off corruption by the spirit of incorruption, and at Your word he came out, still bound with bandages. You can do anything. Everything serves You, O benevolent Lord. Everything is subject to You, our Savior. Glory to You!

Orthros for the Raising of Lazarus

Today has a miracle been performed that is great and paradoxical. For from the grave Christ has summoned a dead man of four days and resurrected him, and called him His beloved friend. Let us sing glory to Him who is supremely glorious, so that at the intercessions of Lazarus the righteous, He might save our souls.

Palm Sunday Troparia

For Lazarus: By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God. Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of death; Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!

For Palm Sunday: As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and praising Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.