Why Do Orthodox Churches and Christians Traditionally Face East in Prayer?

Facing east in prayer is an ancient Christian custom preserved in Orthodox tradition. Many church buildings are oriented so that the altar lies toward the east when geography and construction permit.

Why east? The rising sun naturally became a symbol of light, resurrection, and the coming of Christ. Eastward prayer directs the body toward this shared Christian symbolism.

Does God live in one compass direction? No. God is not confined to the east, and prayer offered in another direction is still prayer.

What if a church building cannot face east? Practical circumstances often determine architecture. The symbolic liturgical east of the altar remains meaningful even when the building is not geographically aligned.

The physical arrangement of Orthodox worship is also explained in What Is an Iconostasis?.