KUCHING, April 5 -- A massive number of Christian congregants gathered at their cathedrals on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in what clergy described as the foundation of the Christian faith.

At St Joseph's Cathedral here, Catholic faithful began arriving as early as 5.45am to secure their places inside the cathedral, with numbers swelling steadily from 6am onwards ahead of the 7am mass.

The service was presided over by Rev Fr Paul Ling, who addressed the congregation with a message of joy and redemption.

"The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia!

"Today is a joyful day because our Lord has risen. This is the foundation of our faith.

"So let us rejoice and let us prepare ourselves now with joyful hearts, that ...