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Four km east of Jerusalem on the main Jerusalem-Jericho road is the Palestinian village of Al Ezariah, home to the famous church of Bethany. The Arabic name of the village is a derivation of the earlier Greek name Lazarus, who according to the New Testament was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. A chapel dedicated to Lazarus was built on his tomb during the 4th century, and was replaced by a church during the Crusader period. The church was later converted into a mosque, but in the 17th century it became a church once again. The present church was built by the Roman Catholics in the 1950s. Nearby is the Greek Orthodox Church with its beautiful blue dome. Visiting hours are from 8 to 11:30am and from 2 to 5pm. |
