Bethany—a small village near Jerusalem—holds profound religious and historical significance, especially in Christianity, and is also mentioned in Judaism and Islam through overlapping traditions and figures.
Situated on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 2 miles (3 km) from Jerusalem.
Today, the area is known as Al-Eizariya (Arabic for "Place of Lazarus") in the West Bank.
Bethany appears prominently in the New Testament as a place closely associated with Jesus and some of his closest followers.
John 11: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, one of his most powerful and symbolic miracles. This act foreshadowed his own resurrection and affirmed his authority over life and death.
The household of Mary and Martha is portrayed as a place of hospitality and friendship with Jesus.
In John 12, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume in Bethany. This event foreshadows his death and burial and shows Mary's deep devotion.
According to the Gospels (e.g., Mark 11:1), Jesus began his Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem from Bethany.
Jesus likely stayed in Bethany during the final week of his life, going back and forth from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:50–51 says Jesus ascended to heaven near Bethany, making it a place tied to the end of his earthly ministry.
While not as emphasized in Jewish tradition, Bethany existed during Second Temple times and was part of the greater Jerusalem area.
The site may have had a leper colony or hospice, as the name “Bethany” might derive from Bet Anya—meaning "house of the poor" or "house of affliction" in Aramaic.
Bethany (Al-Eizariya) is respected due to the prophet Isa (Jesus) and his miracle of raising Al-Azariya (Lazarus).
It is part of Islamic sacred geography connected to the lives of prophets.
Pilgrims visit the Tomb of Lazarus, which has been venerated since early Christianity.
The village is still inhabited and accessible, though it lies within the West Bank, which has political sensitivities.
