The Church Building as a Tool for Orientation Without a Compass: The Problem of Orienting Lithuanian Churches

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7220/2335-8785.91(119).4

Keywords:

orientation without a compass, church orientation, east, survival in emergencies, direction of prayer

Abstract

The research on orientation based on church buildings in Lithuania aims to answer the question whether this method of orientation can be reliable for finding directions without a compass. Survival courses and specialised literature suggest that the altar of a Catholic church is usually oriented to the East, which could help the survivor to find the path. However, an analysis of the orientation of 45 different churches in Lithuania shows that only a few of them are oriented exactly east, i.e. they have a 90° azimuth. Most of the churches were oriented in other directions, so this method proved unreliable. The tendency for churches to be oriented in a non-easterly direction may have been due to practical and historical constraints, such as urbanisation and specific spatial constraints, which may have determined the orientation of the church. The technological possibilities of the time when the churches were built must also be considered – inaccurate measuring methods in the past prevented builders from accurately determining the eastern azimuthal angle. The theological tradition of orientation in the construction of Lithuanian churches may already have disappeared. The tradition of eastward orientation, although it existed in Christian theology as a symbolic sign of resurrection and light, has changed over the centuries. Practical considerations and the actualities of historical periods may have influenced the orientation of churches.  Conclusion: in Lithuania, orientation based on the direction of the church altar is not a reliable method for finding one's way around without a compass, as most churches are not oriented to the east. This suggests that it is important for survivors to rely on more reliable methods of orientation without a compass.

Published

2025-01-28

Issue

Section

Christian Culture and Religious Studies