Sarah Mitchell
The orientation of a building is determined by its planned purpose, ease of use, and relation to the sun and environment. In church architecture, the point of main interest in the interior is traditionally towards the east, with the altar placed at the east end, often within an apse. Many Catholic churches have been built to face the east, with the priest and congregation facing east during prayer. This tradition is said to have originated from the belief that Christ's Second Coming would be from the east, as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27). However, the orientation of churches has become less important over time, and modern Catholic churches can be found facing in various directions, depending on geographic and financial constraints.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Orientation of the church | East |
| Reason for orientation | Christ's Second Coming was expected to be from the east |
| Altar location | East end |
| Entrance location | West end |
| Congregation's direction | Facing east |
| Priest's direction | Facing east |
| Sanctuary location | East end |
| Bishop's throne location | Behind the altar |
| Laity location | Opposite side of bishop's throne |
| Apse location | East end |
| Façade location | West end |
| Liturgical east and west | Symbolic religious reasons |
| North-south axis | Accepted when impractical to build on an east-west axis |
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What You'll Learn
The tradition of churches facing east
The tradition of churches, including Catholic churches, facing east has its roots in early Christianity. Early Christians faced east when praying, a custom that was well-established by the time of Christ. This practice may have originated from the Jewish tradition of praying towards Jerusalem, which, for Jews in the diaspora, would have been towards the east.
The Apostolic Constitutions, a work of Eastern Christianity from the late 4th century, stipulated that churches should have the sanctuary at the east end, allowing Christians to pray eastward. This rule was not universally followed, as some churches were built by converting pre-existing structures, and local factors, such as street directions, also played a role. The orientation of churches became less significant in Europe after the 15th century.
The eastward orientation of churches holds symbolic significance. It is associated with the belief in Christ's Second Coming, which is expected to be from the east, as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew: "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:27). This belief is further supported by the idea that the Garden of Eden, the Tabernacle, and the Temple at Jerusalem all faced east.
In the context of church architecture, the term "orientation" refers to the arrangement of a building, taking into account its planned purpose, ease of use, and relation to its environment. The east end of a church is typically where the altar is placed, often within an apse, while the façade and main entrance are at the west end. This arrangement is called "occidentation" when the entrance is from the east, and the sanctuary is at the opposite end.
While the tradition of churches facing east is not a written law, it holds symbolic and traditional value for Christians. Modern liturgists use the term "liturgical east" to refer to the end where the altar is placed, regardless of the geographical direction. This flexibility in orientation can be necessary due to factors such as local topography and the constraints of town planning.
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The Second Coming of Christ
The orientation of a building refers to the direction in which it is constructed, taking into account its planned purpose, ease of use, and relation to the sun and environment. In church architecture, the main point of interest in the interior is usually oriented towards the east, with the altar placed at this end, often within an apse. The façade and main entrance are typically at the west end. This tradition dates back to early Christians, who faced east when praying, and believed that Christ's Second Coming would be from the east, as referenced in the Gospel of Matthew: "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27).
The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief that Jesus Christ will return to Earth after his ascension to Heaven. This belief is based on messianic prophecies and is part of most Christian eschatologies. The idea is also referenced in the New Testament, where it is known as the "Day of the Lord" or the "Parousia", meaning the "presence" or "arrival" of someone. During Mass, Catholics profess their belief that Jesus "will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end".
The specific interpretation of the Second Coming varies among different denominations. Orthodox Christians hold the traditional view that it will be a sudden and unmistakable incident, and that Jesus will not spend time on Earth but will come to judge mankind. Methodist denominations, on the other hand, differ in their interpretation, with the United Methodist Church not teaching the concept of the "Rapture", while the Evangelical Methodist Church Conference believes in a personal and pre-millennial Second Coming.
The timing of the Second Coming is unknown, and there are various perspectives on when it will occur. Some believe it happened in the 1st century when Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple were destroyed in AD 70, an interpretation known as Preterism. Others, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teach that Christ's Second Coming will mark the beginning of the Millennium, a future event.
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The liturgical east and west
In church architecture, the liturgical east is the point of main interest in the interior, where the altar is placed, often within an apse. The façade and main entrance are accordingly at the liturgical west end. The opposite arrangement, in which the church is entered from the east and the sanctuary is at the west end, is called occidentation.
Many early Christians faced east when praying, and this custom is reflected in the orientation of churches. The Apostolic Constitutions, a work of Eastern Christianity written between AD 375 and 380, gave it as a rule that churches should have the sanctuary (with apse and sacristies) at the east end, to enable Christians to pray facing the east in church as in private or in small groups. This tradition is also substantiated by a verse from the Gospel of Matthew: "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27). This verse suggests that Christ's Second Coming was expected to be from the east, so when Christians orient themselves toward the east, they are symbolically orienting themselves toward Christ.
While the liturgical east and west were important considerations in the construction of churches, the orientation of churches became less significant in Europe after the 15th century. Today, orientation is little observed in the construction of churches in the West, even by the Catholic Church.
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The orientation of the altar
The orientation of a building refers to the direction in which it is constructed and laid out, taking into account its planned purpose, ease of use, and relation to its environment. In church architecture, the orientation typically places the altar in the east end, often within an apse, while the façade and main entrance are at the west end. This arrangement is called "orientation", and even in churches where the altar end is not on the east side, terms like "east end" and "west door" are commonly used as if the church were oriented towards the east.
The tradition of churches facing east has its roots in early Christianity. Many early Christians faced east when praying, and Church Fathers offered mystical explanations for this custom. One such explanation is based on the Gospel of Matthew: "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27). This led to the belief that Christ's Second Coming would be from the east, and by facing east during prayer, Christians were symbolically orienting themselves towards Christ.
The Apostolic Constitutions, a work of Eastern Christianity from the 4th century AD, formalized the rule that churches should have the sanctuary (with apse and sacristies) at the east end, allowing Christians to pray facing east. This orientation was obligatory in the Byzantine Empire and was also adopted in the Frankish Empire and elsewhere in Western and Northern Europe. However, there were exceptions to this rule, with some churches in Tyre, Lebanon, and Germany having the entrance at the east end and the sanctuary at the west.
The importance of church orientation declined in Europe after the 15th century, and today, orientation is little observed in the construction of churches, even by the Catholic Church. However, many Catholic churches have been built facing east whenever possible, and the tradition of the altar being at the east end, with the priest facing the people, is still followed in some cases.
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The influence of topography
The orientation of a building refers to the direction in which it is constructed, taking into account its planned purpose, ease of use, and relation to its environment. In church architecture, the ideal orientation is to have the altar at the east end, often within an apse, so that the main point of interest is towards the east. This tradition is based on the belief that Christ's Second Coming will be from the east, as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew: "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27).
However, the orientation of churches can also be influenced by topography and urban geography. For example, medieval churches often had to fit within existing town plans, which could constrain their orientation. In rural areas, the natural topography may also play a role in determining the direction a church faces. A notable example is Quimper Cathedral in Brittany, which bends slightly in the middle to match the contours of its location and avoid a swampy area during its construction.
In some cases, the orientation of churches may deviate from the ideal east-west axis due to financial constraints or the availability of suitable land. For instance, the current St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, completed in the 1600s, faces west due to its role as a pilgrimage site and the presence of relics. Additionally, modern liturgists have introduced the concept of "liturgical east," acknowledging that altars may not always be located at the geographical east end of a church.
While the traditional practice of orienting churches towards the east is still followed by Eastern rites, Roman Catholic churches in the 20th century can be found facing in all directions. This shift may be attributed to a combination of factors, including the increasing influence of topography, urban planning constraints, and the relaxation of strict adherence to traditional orientation.
Overall, the influence of topography on the orientation of Catholic churches is significant, especially when considering the ideal of facing the altar towards the east. While some churches strictly adhere to this tradition, others are influenced by the natural contours of the land, urban development, or practical considerations, resulting in variations in their directional alignment.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic churches traditionally face east, with the altar at the eastern end. This is because Christians traditionally prayed facing the east, towards the rising sun, which is a symbol of Christ and his Second Coming.
The practice of praying towards the east is older than Christianity, but Christians adopted it because they believe that Christ's Second Coming will be from the east.
Sometimes churches are built in other directions due to geographical or financial constraints. In the 20th century, Roman Catholic churches can be found facing in all directions, but those of the Eastern rites still follow the traditional practice more strictly.
The orientation of churches has changed over time. Early Christian churches in Rome were built with the entrance to the east, but from the 8th or 9th century, they adopted the Byzantine Empire's practice of placing the altar at the eastern end. In the 1960s, the Catholic Church experienced a burst of intense change that dramatically altered its architectural arrangements.
Liturgical east and west refer to the traditional orientation of churches, with the altar at the eastern end. Even when churches are not built in this way, the liturgical terms are still used to describe the different parts of the church.
