The present Arab village on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives is known as Al-Azariyeh, an Arabic name derived from Lazarus. Originally, the village was likely situated higher up the hill to the west of the tomb of Lazarus.
This area holds significance in Christian tradition as it was where Jesus spent time in the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and where he famously resurrected Lazarus from death.
Christian churches have been present in this area since the early centuries. In AD 333, the Anonymous Pilgrim of Bordeaux documented visiting "the crypt where Lazarus had been laid to rest."
By the 14th century, these early churches had fallen into ruin, and the original entrance to the tomb had been converted into a mosque. In the 16th century, the Franciscans excavated through the soft rock to create the present entrance that visitors see today.