Coptic Pascha does not start Sunday morning. It begins with the Apocalypse reading on Joyous Saturday evening (Bright Saturday), continues through midnight with the Paschal Liturgy of St. Basil, and extends into the morning.

Plan to arrive at your church no later than the Vespers of Joyous Saturday. If your parish begins the Apocalypse at 7 PM, the Liturgy typically concludes after 2 AM.

Festal white or light-colored clothing. Dark Lenten vestments are set aside; the church is dressed in white, and the faithful traditionally wear their brightest.

A candle if your parish distributes the Paschal flame. Many Coptic parishes light candles from the altar fire and carry them home for the rest of Bright Week.

Baskets of festive food (eggs dyed red, meat, cheese, bread) for the Paschal meal that follows the midnight Liturgy. Some parishes bless baskets inside the church.

The Lenten fast breaks AFTER you receive Holy Communion at the Paschal Liturgy, not before. Continue the vegan Lenten fast through Good Friday and Joyous Saturday. On Saturday evening, abstain from all food and drink (including water) from 9 PM until after Communion, in keeping with the Coptic rule of a full eucharistic fast.

After the Gospel of the Resurrection is proclaimed, the priest greets the congregation with "Christ is Risen!" The response is "Truly He is Risen!"

This greeting replaces all other greetings for the next fifty days (through Pentecost). When you see a fellow Christian during Bright Week, begin with "Christ is Risen!" before saying anything else.

The Wednesday and Friday weekly fast is suspended for the full 50 days of Pentecost.

No kneeling or prostrations during the Paschal season (Apostolic Canon 20).

The Paschal Alleluia replaces the opening hymns of the Agpeya hours.

The Litany of the Departed is replaced by Paschal hymns at the Divine Liturgy throughout Bright Week.