The Easter Mass was attended by a large group of worshippers as well as senior bishops, priests and deacons.

On Friday, also at the Abbasiya Cathedral, Pope Tawadros II led the Good Friday Mass, which was attended by hundreds of worshippers as well as senior bishops and priests.

Palm Sunday, which fell on 9 April this year, marked the first day of Holy Week.

The Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, which is Easter Eve.

After attending the Easter Mass, Copts celebrate ending a 55-day fast –referring to the festivities as the Big Eid.

The Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Easter according to the Coptic calendar, which is also known as the Alexandrian calendar.

The church sets the date of Easter according to the actual equinox and astronomical full moon observed along the meridian of Jerusalem - where the Crucifixion and Resurrection took place.

In contrast, Western churches fix the date of the spring equinox to 21 March and bases its calculations on tables created by the church, rather than the actual astronomical full moon.