When is Tobit read during Great Lent?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Book of Tobit (also known as the Journey of Tobias) is traditionally read in its entirety on Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday).

Specifically, it is read during the Joyful Saturday (Lazarus Saturday) Vigil, or, in some traditions, on the Friday of the sixth week of Great Lent (the Friday before Lazarus Saturday), which marks the conclusion of the "Forty Days" of fasting.

The Liturgical Context

The Book of Tobit is one of the Deuterocanonical Books (which we Coptic Orthodox recognize as inspired Holy Scripture, unlike Protestants, who wrongly removed them from their Bibles).

• Timing: Because the Book of Tobit is filled with themes of almsgiving, prayer, fasting, and the protection of Archangel Raphael, it serves as a spiritual bridge between the ascetic struggles of the Forty Days and the entrance into the Holy Pascha week.
• Significance of Lazarus Saturday: On this day, the Church transitions from the penitential Lenten mood to a more joyful atmosphere as we celebrate the raising of Lazarus. Tobit is read because it emphasizes God's faithfulness to the righteous who suffer and the ultimate victory of light over darkness.

Why is it read during Great Lent?

The Coptic Church reads the Book of Tobit for several theological reasons:

1. Almsgiving: A central theme of Tobit is "Alms deliver from death" (Tobit 12:9). Since almsgiving is one of the three pillars of Great Lent (alongside prayer and fasting), this book provides the scriptural model for our Lenten practice.
2. Archangel Raphael: The book features the appearance of Archangel Raphael, the "Angel of Healing." This is relevant to Great Lent, which is a season of spiritual and physical healing.
3. The Marriage of Tobias and Sarah: The purity of their marriage is held up as a model for the faithful during a season when we focus on the "purity of the heart."

Note for Liturgical Practice:

Depending on the specific church's practice, the priest or deacons may read the entire book after the 9th Hour or during the Vespers leading into Lazarus Saturday. It is a beautiful tradition where the congregation gathers to hear the story of God's providence, preparing them to witness the ultimate providence of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.