Hundreds attended on Tuesday a mass in Upper Egypt’s Minya governorate in commemoration of the 20 Copts who were slain in Libya by the Islamic State militant group one year ago.

The mass was held in the Dioces of Minya’s Samalout, from where the victims hailed, and was led by Bishop Pavnotios.

On 16 February 2015, a graphic video was posted online showing IS militants on a Libyan beach beheading the Coptic Christians and vowing to fight what they described as "crusaders."

Less than 24 hours after the release of the video, Egypt launched airstrikes on IS hideouts in the Libyan cities Derna and Sirte in coordination with the Libyan army.