History and Culture
Orthodox Priests Always Face East
This is not simply a matter of preference. It expresses the Church's understanding of prayer, expectation of Christ’s return, and the coming Kingdom of God.
Something many first-time visitors to an Orthodox church might notice is that the priest spends the majority of the service with his back turned to the people. For those who grew up in the West, both Catholics and Protestants, this can seem cold and impersonal. After all, we are used to being interacted with, to seeing the actions of the clergy, and to being preached to. The latter is especially significant in many Protestant traditions, where the sermon forms the backbone and lion’s share of the worship service.
But the Orthodox practice is not about turning the priest away from the people. Rather, his positioning, commonly known as ad orientem, or “toward the east,” is an ancient Christian practice. Its significance is that the priest, rather than addressing the people (ad populum, or “toward the people”) is turned toward God, leading the people in prayer.
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