CAIRO, Dec 12 (Aswat Masriya) - Dozens of Egyptians protested on Monday outside the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasios Church after they were denied entry to the funeral of victims of the church bombing.

Egypt's Coptic Pope Tawadros II led funeral prayers Monday for the victims of St. Peter Church bombing that left 25 people dead and tens injured. 

Only families of victims, who received an official permit, were allowed entry to the funeral mass that was held at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasios Churchin Nasr City.

Security forces also closed all streets leading to the church.

Pope Tawadros II had cut short a visit to Greece to return to Egypt following the explosion, which hit a church attached to the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Abbasiya.

Following the explosion, Egypt's Orthodox church stressed on the importance of preserving national unity, while President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-day mourning starting Sunday.

Security sources said that a highly explosive device that contained 12 kilos of TNT explosive materials was placed inside the church and was remotely detonated during Sunday mass.