Hundreds of Copts from various governorates flocked on Thursday to the Monastery of Saint Bishoy in Beheira to mark the fourth anniversary of former Pope Shenouda III's death.

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria led the mass which was attended by a big number of bishops and monks.

The event was held under tight security measures.

Shenouda, the 117th patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, died on Saturday, 17, 2012 at the age of 88 following protracted battles with a number of illnesses.

Shenouda assumed his papal authority in 1971 during the presidency of Anwar Sadat

Source: MENA