Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Ad Orientem

A primer on the practice of praying facing Eastward, going through the Jewish tradition, the Scriptures, and archaeological evidence. She does make a mistake when she says St. Peter's Basilica does not face East. It certainly does. After listening to this one understands just how important and rooted in tradition orientation is.
 

1 comment:

  1. I'll have to listen to this. In Edersheim's "The Temple", he mentions that worship in the Temple was done "ad occidentem" for two reasons:
    1 - because Paradise had been closed off
    2 - because heathens prayed ad orientem and they did not want to be associated with sun worship

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