The Church is named after the New Testament friend of Jesus whom he rose from the dead, as is recounted in the Gospel of St. John 11:41-44, that is Lazarus of Bethany. Following his resurrection Lazarus fled to Cyprus to escape persecution by the local high priests. Here, Lazarus encountered Apostles Paul and Barnabas and was ordained as the first Bishop of Kition (Present day Larnaka). He is said to have lived for thirty more years and on his death was buried there for the second and last time. Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium had Lazarus’ remains transferred to Constantinople in the year 898 AD and had the Church of St. Lazarus erected over Lazarus’ tomb in the late 9th to early 10th century AD. The Church of St. Lazarus is one of the three Byzantine era churches remaining in Cyprus. Next to the church is the Byzantine Museum, which exhibits important religious icons, artefacts and relics.