"The East is a symbol of light and a symbol of Christ—the sun rising anew in history."
We use the term "orientation" to describe the training that helps newcomers—whether at school or work—adjust to their new environment. But did you know that this word was originally widely used in the context of church architecture?
"Orientation" derives from the word "Orient" (meaning East) and originally signifies the act of determining direction. In church architecture, the practice of positioning the church's central axis—where the altar is located—to face East is referred to as "orientation."
So, why were churches built to face East? This is because praying toward the East has long been a tradition of the Church.
The tradition of facing East while praying can be traced back to records from as early as the 2nd century. Throughout history, various Church Fathers and saints have taught about the significance of this practice. Saint Thomas Aquinas, in his *Summa Theologica*, summarized the meaning of this tradition into three points. For one thing, the rising of the sun in the east serves as a sign revealing God’s majesty. Another reason lies in the biblical record, which states that the Garden of Eden—the paradise created by God—was located in the east.
Above all, the east symbolizes the direction in which we await the return of Christ. Jesus taught, "For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27). Pope Benedict XVI also explained the significance of the east during his 2010 Easter Vigil homily, stating, "The east is a symbol of light, and a symbol of Christ—the sun rising anew in history."
The tradition of orienting churches toward the east became particularly prominent during the Middle Ages. Famous cathedrals built in that era, such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Cologne Cathedral, positioned their apses—where the altars are located—to face the sunrise. In some cases, the altar's orientation was determined by precisely calculating the point of sunrise on the feast day of the church's patron saint; for instance, at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Austria, the sun rises along the cathedral's central axis on December 26, the feast of its patron, Saint Stephen.
Of course, not all churches face east. Major basilicas like St. Peters and the Lateran have altars facing west, and many other churches are oriented away from the east due to factors such as topography, road layouts, or the location of a saint's tomb. Modern church architecture also employs various orientations based on a range of considerations. This is because the symbolism of praying toward Jesus is what matters, not the east itself.
In this way, the concept of "orientation"—originally referring to facing east—has expanded in meaning today to encompass the act of setting a direction before undertaking any task. The Apostle Paul teaches us, "You are God’s temple" (1 Corinthians 3:17).
As we greet the sun rising in the east each morning, why not "orient" ourselves—as temples of God—so that the direction of our day is set toward Jesus, who is the Light?
