The Tradition of Lazarakia Breads

No one knows exactly where the tradition of baking Lazarakia or Lazarus Breads on the Saturday of Lazarus began, but it's been a beloved tradition in Orthodox homes for generations.

Some people may consider the "little t" traditions to be silly or old-fashioned but I wholeheartedly disagree. I believe it's these little traditions that help us teach our children that Orthodoxy is a way of life. It helps them connect to, and remember, the stories we read them from the Bible or lives of the saints, to the every day life happening at home in our little church. This helps them learn to think about their faith not only in church but at home and "every place of Your dominion". Plus, they're fun, tangible ways to show that everything we do in the Orthodox Faith points back to Christ--even the celebrating of His saints.

I remember being a young girl and baking these with my great-grandmother and going door to door with our church's junior choir to sing the kalanta (carols) of St. Lazarus. They're such cherished memories.

While you mix and knead the dough to these little breads, retell your children the rest of the story about St. Lazarus...

The Story of St. Lazarus

We all know the story of St. Lazarus from the Gospel of St. John and how Jesus raised him from the dead after being in the tomb for four days. But what happened after that?

According to Scripture and the tradition of the Cypriot church, Lazarus was compelled to seek refuge away from Jerusalem to avoid the anger of the high priests and the pharisees, who wanted to kill him, ...the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed in Jesus (John 12:10-11). Many Christians too ... were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about. Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch ...; just like Stephen, Lazarus would have had to leave Judea to seek refuge in another country. This location was Kition in Cyprus. 

When Apostle Paul and Apostle Barnabas travelled to Cyprus, they ordained Lazarus as the first Bishop of Kition. This is why all episcopal thrones in Larnaca have the icon of St. Lazarus instead of Christ, which is the standard custom of the church.

The Raising of Lazarus Icon from Uncut Mountain Supply

Another famous tradition related to Lazarus is the discovery of Mount Athos in 52 AD by the Theotokos. Lazarus was very close to the Virgin Mary and he was very grieved that he could not return to Jerusalem to visit her (he was still in fear of the Jews). The Theotokos learned of his sorrow and sent him a letter to comfort him. She asked that he might send a ship to her that she might visit him in Cyprus. With great joy, Lazarus sent a ship to the Holy Land to bring the Virgin Mary and John, the beloved disciple to Cyprus for a visit. However on their journey, a great storm blew them off course and carried them to the shores of Ephesus and then the ship to the shores of Athos, Greece. Unaware that divine providence had brought her to this area, the Virgin Mary completely taken by the beauty of the area, prayed to her son that this could be her garden devoted to prayer to "fight the good fight of faith". Having converted, blessed and established a new Christian community from the local idolaters they set sail for Cyprus and met with Lazarus. Tomb of Saint Lazarus in Bethany.

Further establishing the apostolic nature of Lazarus' appointment, was the tradition that the bishop's omophorion and epimanikia were presented to Lazarus by the Virgin Mary, who had woven it herself.

Little more is known about Lazarus after Our Lord's Resurrection and Ascension, except that during his thirty years after his resuscitation, he never smiled or joked except on one occasion, recorded in the Synaxarion. One day, he saw someone stealing a clay pot and he smiled saying, "the clay steals the clay".

The first tomb of Lazarus in Bethany remains as a site for pilgrims to this very day. 

The second tomb on the island of Cyprus, was found in Kition sometime in 890 AD, with his relics inside, and bearing the inscription: "Lazarus, the Friend of Christ."

Lazarakia Recipe

 Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 tsp. yeast

• 12-14 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• 3 tsp. salt

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups lukewarm water

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 tsp. aniseed or anise extract

if available you can also add:

• 1 tsp. mahlepi

• 1/2 tsp. masticha

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of the 2 1/2 – 3 cups lukewarm water.

3. Add sugar and salt and stire well.

4. Add remaining water, oil cinnamon and 6 cups flour and stir the mixture until creamy.

5. Slowly add enough of remaining flour to make a medium dough.

6. Divide dough into however many Lazarakia you’d like and roll into logs. Cut slits for arms and legs. Cross arms across chest and pinch a head.

7. Place on slightly greased cookie sheets, cover with towel and let rise for about an hour or until almost doubled in size.

8. Bake loaves for 20-30 minutes or until hollow when tapped on bottom.

Enjoy!!

I hope everyone has a blessed Saturday of Lazarus! 

Most holy St. Lazarus pray unto God for us!

http://www.orthodoxmom.com/2009/04/11/traditions-remembering-st-lazarus/