Saint Lazarus

Lazarus lived in Bethany with his sisters Martha and Mary. John's Gospel tells that when he died, Jesus wept at his tomb and then called him out alive after four days: "Lazarus, come out!" Older calendars kept him on December 17; since 2021 the Church celebrates Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus together on July 29.

December 17 also begins the O Antiphons, the ancient prayers of the last week of Advent, the source of the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel". Lazarus is the patron of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus, founded to care for lepers.