It is common to find ostrich eggs hanging next to the icon carrier, in front of the sanctuary. These eggs are ornaments that symbolize the vigilance with which an ostrich ceaselessly protects its egg, and is consequently meant to remind the congregation that their thoughts should be similarly focusing on spiritual matters. The use of eggs as ornaments is undoubtedly adopted from ancient Egyptian customs. Ostrich eggs and pottery eggs have been used as decorative elements in churches and later in mosques that were erected by Copts after the Arabs' conquest of Egypt. The side apses are used when there is more than one service of the divine liturgy per day.
Coptic altars are free-standing and in the middle of the chapel.
Behind the central altar there is a tribunal with a throne for a bishop and seats for the officiating clergy. In the early years of Christianity, it was customary to bury the bodies of saints or martyrs beneath the altar, either in a vault or in a crypt beneath the floor of the sanctuary. In the narthex of some of the old churches there is an oblong tank sunk in the floor. This was originally used for libation or blessing of water, for which also sunk in the floor, was used for the foot-washing service commemorating the washing of the disciples' feet by the Lord on Maundy Thursday. Another important feature of old Coptic churches is the location of the baptistry.