Bethany

Bethany.

The village of Lazarus and his sisters is located on the eastern flank of the Mount of Olives "about fifteen stadia from Jerusalem", approximately 2.7 km.

Inhabitants or natives

Lazarus, Martha and Mary Magdalene, Naomi, their nurse, Simon the Zealot (Apostle), the apostle and his old servant Joseph, Marcella, Martha’s servant, Maximin, the steward, Sarah, the widow healed by Jesus, Ishmael, the abandoned elder, Aser, Tobias and Jonah, servants. A wealthy Roman or Greek woman who raises Birds.

Description

Village built on a plateau to the east of Jerusalem. Two roads lead there: one, steep and direct, passes north of the Mount of Olives. The other, more comfortable but longer, passes to the south. It is the main road.

"In Bethany there is not only the beautiful house of Lazarus, but also other homes of the rich, perhaps citizens of Jerusalem who prefer to live here, near their Goods, and who, amid the small houses of the villagers, highlight the imposing and magnificent masses of their villas with carefully maintained gardens. It is a strange sight on these hills, reminiscent of the East, that of these palms with slender trunks topped by a dense and rustling tuft of Leaves. Behind this jade green one instinctively searches for the endless yellow sands of the desert."

The property of Lazarus, Martha and Mary of Magdala is one of the first in the village coming from Jericho. It is therefore to the east. Bethany belongs for three-quarters to the Family of Lazarus." He had greenhouses installed on the roof.

The tradition that the Family of Bethany exiles themselves in Gaul under the effect of the persecutions launched by Herod Agrippa is implied in this confidence of Jesus to Lazarus:

"Bethany will always be Bethany as long as Hatred does not reign in this home of loving belief to scatter the flames, and on the contrary it will spread them over the world to ignite it entirely."

Indeed, this refuge Against the rising persecutions, due to the Protections Lazarus benefits from, will be of short duration. The nascent Church is spied on and threatened, forcing the Apostles—except John—into exile.

Notable facts

It is the place of Lazarus's resurrection and a friendly place where Jesus often finds rest.

"I have two houses of Peace, and I could equally say dear: that of Nazareth, and this one. If there my Mother is located, the heavenly love almost as great as Heaven for the Son of God, here I have the love of men for the Son of Man, the friendly love, full of faith and veneration."

The house of Simon the Zealot (Apostle) was located immediately near that of Lazarus, as also suggested by Matthew, Mark and John.

Its name

ביתוניא (Bethany)

Bethany "House of the Afflicted". In the Talmud this name means "house of unripe dates". Today Eizariya, El-Azarié, (el-Aziriyeh, el-Azariyah, village of Lazarus) transcription of its Byzantine name Lazarion.

Where is it mentioned in the work?

GRM 70 GRM 84
GRM 112 GRM 113 GRM 117 GRM 136 GRM 199
GRM 200 GRM 204 GRM 205 GRM 282 GRM 284 GRM 285
GRM 377
GRM 415 GRM 485 GRM 492
GRM 519 GRM 541 GRM 542 GRM 543 GRM 544 GRM 546 GRM 548 GRM 559 GRM 566 GRM 574 GRM 576 GRM 581 GRM 582 GRM 583 GRM 584 GRM 585 GRM 586 GRM 587
GRM 628 GRM 648

Learn more about this place

It is Simon the Zealot (Apostle) who introduces Jesus to his friend and neighbor Lazarus, from the first year of public life. Bethany then becomes a place of Home, refuge, and rest for Jesus and his followers. Throughout the narrative Maria Valtorta notes "the steep path leading to the plateau on which Bethany is built" or "the torrent south of Bethany" (the Kidron), and many other details all perfectly accurate, like "the abundant spring a little north of where Bethany begins" which is known by geographers as the Ein Shemesh spring.

In his farewell to Lazarus, just before the Passion, Jesus predicts that Bethany will remain a center of Home for the early Disciples, until persecutions force them to flee Palestine. "'Bethany will always be Bethany as long as Hatred does not reign in this home of love believing in dispersing the flames, and rather it will spread them over the world to ignite it entirely'".

Since the early centuries the tomb of Lazarus, dug in the rock, has been venerated in this place. Around 1850 visitors came to see "the site of Lazarus's house, and the ruins of a chapel initially erected on the site of the home of Simon the leper."

Explore

• 31° 46’ 10’’ N / 35° 16’ 10’’ E

• +650m.

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Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.

Kilometres. 1 km = 0.621 miles. 1 mile = 1.609 km.