Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wash and dry the chicken and place in a roaster. Rub the chicken with the olive oil and then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Wash the lemons and then pierce 2 of the lemons with a fork several times. Thinly slice the third lemon and set aside to use later.

Place 1-2 lemons (depending on their size) in the cavity of the chicken and then fasten the cavity closed with toothpicks. Place the chicken thigh side up and bake in preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken so that the breast side is up and cook for another 30 minutes. After 1 hour turn the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the sliced lemon on top of the chicken and cook for another 20-30 minutes.

When chicken is cooked through, place on a serving platter and serve whole and slice at table. Careful not to squeeze or slice the lemons as they will still have juice and squirt! Spoon the cooking juices over the sliced chicken when serving.