Canonical reading on Lazarus Saturday: “Our Lord Jesus Christ makes His way across the earth ...”: historical and theological analysis and modern interpretation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072X_2026_2_195-220Keywords:
Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, canonical readings, Typicon, liturgical instructions.Abstract
This article examines the canonical readings for Lazarus Saturday, specifically the commentary on the Gospel reading proposed for proclamation from the “Teaching Gospel” (a translation of the “Patriarchal Homilial,” attributed to Patriarch John IX Agapitus). This study is relevant for reconstructing the practices of canonical readings and for a more profound understanding of the liturgical service on the Saturday of Flower-Bearing Week in the context of the topics accepted for consideration by the InterCouncil Presence Commission. The purpose of this study is to translate and conduct a historical and theological analysis of the canonical readings for the Lazarus Saturday service.
The Typikon currently used in the Russian Orthodox Church recommends certain canonical readings for a clearer and more complete understanding of liturgical texts, including the Gospel reading for Lazarus Saturday. The authors examine one of the proposed sermons in its historical perspective, applying comparative historical, textual, and hermeneutical methods. They analyze manuscripts and early printed rites of Ancient Rus’ and other liturgical books from the 12th to 17th centuries, and also propose a translation of the Gospel interpretation into modern Russian. The paper demonstrates the evolution of the canonical readings on Lazarus Saturday in liturgical practice, identifying its key theological themes: the resurrection of Lazarus as a prototype of the general resurrection, the overcoming of death through faith and works, and the transformation of man as a condition for participation in the future life.
Having analyzed the recommended sermon on the day of the resurrection of Lazarus, the authors conclude that it is advisable to revive the practice of canonical readings, with the necessary adaptation of the text for the modern generation of Orthodox Christians. The results of the study confirm the value of canonical readings as an important element of the spiritual enlightenment of believers, contributing to a deeper understanding of the meaning of the service and the events of the Gospel.
For citation: Lopukhov D. V.,priest, Grudinina E. V. Canonical reading on Lazarus Saturday: “Our Lord Jesus Christ makes His way across the earth...”: historical and theological analysis and modern interpretation // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2026, no. 2 (35), pp. 195–220. (In Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072X_2026_2_195-220. EDN: ZJFEVA
Author contributions:
Priest Daniil Lopukhov developed the article concept, collected empirical data, searched for and analyzed the scientific literature, drafted the manuscript, and prepared the translation from Church Slavonic.
Elena Grudinina verified the collected materials, developed the research methods, prepared and edited the translation from Church Slavonic, prepared the manuscript in accordance with editorial requirements, and performed final editing.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Funding: This study did not receive external funding.
Received 24 February 2026.
Accepted for press 28 April 2026.
The content is available under a license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
ISSN 2687-072Х
RSCI: SPIN-код: 8866-1241; AuthorID: 364954
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