Why do we commemorate Lazarus twice in the Coptic Church?

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

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, we distinguish between two different individuals named Lazarus mentioned in the Gospels. The Church commemorates them separately because they represent two distinct accounts: one is a historical miracle of resurrection, and the other is a spiritual figure from a parable told by our Lord.

1. St. Lazarus of Bethany (The Friend of Christ)

This is the most prominent Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Christ raised from the dead after four days in the tomb.

• Commemoration: He is remembered on Lazarus Saturday, which falls the day before Palm Sunday.
• Theological Meaning: This commemoration focuses on Christ’s power over death and corruption. It serves as a precursor to Christ’s own Resurrection. According to Church tradition, after his resurrection, Lazarus became the Bishop of Kition in Cyprus and lived for many years before departing in peace.
• Liturgical Practice: We celebrate with a joyful tune, acknowledging him as "Lazarus, the friend of our Savior."

2. St. Lazarus the Beggar (From the Parable)

This is the figure from the story told by Christ in the Gospel of St. Luke (Chapter 16) regarding the "Rich Man and Lazarus."

• Commemoration: He is commemorated on the 21st of Toubah in the Coptic Synaxarium.
• Theological Meaning: Though some debate whether this was a parable or a real account (as Christ rarely used proper names in parables), the Church honors him as a saint who endured poverty and disease with great patience. He is the one who was "carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom."
• Significance: This commemoration focuses on the virtues of endurance, the reality of the afterlife, and the comfort of the righteous after earthly suffering.

Why the distinction is important:

It is a common mistake for those outside the Orthodox faith (such as certain Protestant groups or heretical movements) to confuse the two or dismiss the importance of honoring these saints. The Coptic Church, however, clearly separates them:

1. St. Lazarus of Bethany is a testimony to the Divinity of Christ and His authority over the physical body.
2. St. Lazarus the Beggar is a testimony to the Mercy of God and the reward for those who suffer patiently in this world.

In our liturgical prayers and the hymns chanted by great cantors like Moalem Ibrahim Ayad or Moalem Mina Makar, the focus remains on the specific theological truth each Lazarus represents.