Worship towards the East - pray towards the East - What are the ancient witnesses for this practice. From the Old Testament to 9 century AD?

I am looking for the oldest witnesses for the prayer towards the East both pagan and Christian. I am trying to understand the reason for the praying towards the east and from the most ancient sources I notice strange things. Especially Clement of Alexandria - does he mean the pagan temples are the reason for us to pray towards East? > In correspondence with the manner of the sun's rising, prayers are > made looking towards the sunrise in the east. **Whence also the most > ancient temples looked towards the west**, (Pagan temples?) that people > might be taught to turn to the east when facing the images. (What > images? The sun?) **I noticed similarity with the pagan writer of De architectura:** > (Pagan - 30–20 BC?) (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio?) - De architectura > CHAPTER V HOW THE TEMPLE SHOULD FACE > > 1. The quarter toward which temples of the immortal gods ought to face is to be determined on the principle that, if there is no reason to > hinder and the choice is free, the temple and the statue placed in the > cella should face the western quarter of the sky. This will enable > those who approach the altar with offerings or sacrifices to face the > direction of the sunrise in facing the statue in the temple, and > thus those who are undertaking vows look toward the quarter from which > the sun comes forth, and likewise the statues themselves appear to be > coming forth out of the east to look upon them as they pray and > sacrifice. The most hold reason today is that Christ will come from the East as John Damascus has interpreted Matthew 24:27. But the most ancient witnesses did not know anything about this, at least I could not find mention of this. John Chrysostom does not mention this when he talks about Matthew 24:27; (Luke 17:24); Origen, Tertullian, Clement, Basil and the rest before John Damascus does not mention such reason I could not find. I also notice that the meaning of the prayer towards east is changing trough the years. Do you know more writings mentioning the prayer towards the East? 1. (c. 593 to 571 BC?) - Ezekiel 8:15-16 - Old Testament 15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Ezekiel 8:15-16 2. (50BC - (37–41AD)?) - Book of Wisdom 16:27-29 27 For what was not destroyed by fire was melted when simply warmed by a fleeting ray of the sun, 28 to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light; (I think - dawning of the light = (East) ἀνατολὴν) 29 for the hope of an ungrateful person will melt like wintry frost, and flow away like waste water.Book of Wisdom 16:27-29 3. (Pagan - 30–20 BC?) (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio?) - De architectura - [Early Christian Prayer and Identity Formation ](https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%93%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81/+%20%D0%9D%D0%B5%20%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%BE%20%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5/ENG/Early%20Christian%20Prayer%20and%20Identity%20Formation.pdf) - [*De architectura*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_architectura) - [Vitruvius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitruvius) CHAPTER V HOW THE TEMPLE SHOULD FACE 1. The quarter toward which temples of the immortal gods ought to face is to be determined on the principle that, if there is no reason to hinder and the choice is free, the temple and the statue placed in the cella should face the western quarter of the sky. This will enable those who approach the altar with offerings or sacrifices to face the direction of the sunrise in facing the sta- tue in the temple, and thus those who are undertaking vows look toward the quarter from which the sun comes forth, and likewise the statues themselves appear to be coming forth out of the east to look upon them as they pray and sacrifice. 2. But if the nature of the site is such as to forbid this, then the principle of determining the quarter should be changed, so that the widest possible view of the city may be had from the sanctuaries of the gods. Furthermore, temples that are to be built beside. - [De architectura libri decem 4.5.1](https://www.chenarch.com/images/arch-texts/0000-Vitruvius-50BC-Ten-Books-of-Architecture.pdf) - [Vitruvii De architectura libri decem](https://archive.org/details/vitruviidearchit00vitr/page/202/mode/2up) 4. (c.100-160 AD?) - Apocrypha - Acts of Paul - Tertullian, who deemed the work to be heretical. “- Possibly, the earliest evidence for this convention is found in the Acts of Paul, where Paul is depicted praying just before he is beheaded: “Then Paul stood with his face to the east and lifting up his hands to heaven (Τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος κατέναντι πρὸς ἀνατολὰς καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν), prayed at length” (Mart. Paul 5) - [Early Christian Prayer and Identity Formation](https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%93%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81/+%20%D0%9D%D0%B5%20%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%BE%20%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5/ENG/Early%20Christian%20Prayer%20and%20Identity%20Formation.pdf) - [Acts of Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_Paul) - [The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John Andrew and Thomas](https://dn790007.ca.archive.org/0/items/apocryphalactsof00pickuoft/apocryphalactsof00pickuoft.pdf) 5. (197 AD) Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 220 AD) (Apologeticus…was written in Carthage in the summer or autumn of 197 AD) - [Apology](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0301.htm) - [*Apologeticus*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologeticus#:~:text=Apologeticus%2C%20his%20most%20famous%20apologetic,2nd%20centuries%20had%20been%20convicted.) 6. (197 AD)Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 220 AD) (early summer of 197 AD) (Seems that pagans prayed towards the East as seen in Ezekiel 8:15-16 ) The work can be dated to the early summer of 197, following Severus bloody defeat of Albinus in February 197, which is referred to in the work. - [Ad nationes (To the nations)](https://www.tertullian.org/works/ad_nationes.htm) - [Ad Nationes (Book I)](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/03061.htm) 7. (After 207 AD?)Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 220 AD) "of our dove", as he terms them, are always in "high and open places, facing the light" (Tertullian Adv. Val., c. iii), Of our dove, however, how simple is the very home!— always in high and open places, and facing the light! As the symbol of the Holy Spirit, it loves the (radiant) East, that figure of Christ. Nothing causes truth a blush, except only being hidden, because no man will be ashamed to give ear thereto. (Tertullian Adv. Val., c. iii). - [Against the Valentinians](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0314.htm) - [Against the Valentinians](https://ccel.org/ccel/tertullian/against_valentinians/anf03.v.vi.i.html) 8. (198 AD–c. 203 AD) Clement of Alexandria (c.150-215 AD)(Stromata written c. 198 AD–c. 203 AD) - considered gnostic by himself. > And since the dawn is an image of the day of birth, and from that point the light which has shone forth at first from the darkness increases, there has also dawned on those involved in darkness a day of the knowledge of truth. In correspondence with the manner of the sun's rising, prayers are made looking towards the sunrise in the east. Whence also the most ancient temples looked towards the west,(Pagan temples?) that people might be taught to turn to the east when facing the images. (What images? The sun?) "Let my prayer be directed before Thee as incense, the uplifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice," say the Psalms. In the case of wicked men, therefore, prayer is most injurious, not to others alone, but to themselves also. If, then, they should ask and receive what they call pieces of good fortune, these injure them after they receive them, being ignorant how to use them. For they pray to possess what they have not, and they ask things which seem, but are not, good things. But the Gnostic will ask the permanence of the things he possesses, adaptation for what is to take place, and the eternity of those things which he shall receive. And the things which are really good, the things which concern the soul, he prays that they may belong to him, and remain with him. And so he desires not anything that is absent, being content with what is present. For he is not deficient in the good things which are proper to him; being already sufficient for himself, through divine grace and knowledge. But having become sufficient in himself, he stands in no want of other things. But knowing the sovereign will, and possessing as soon as he prays, being brought into close contact with the almighty power, and earnestly desiring to be spiritual, through boundless love, he is united to the Spirit. Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 7.7.43–46; - [The Stromata, or Miscellanies](https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-stromata-book7.html) - [The Stromata (Book VII)](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/02107.htm) - [Clement of Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_of_Alexandria) 9. (c. 185 – c. 253 AD) Origen of Alexandria - (Unknown date) (Origen. 32).44 Origen, On Prayer, Part 3 - Origen, Origen: Prayer, Exhortation to Martyrdom, ed. by Johannes Quasten and Joseph C. Plumpe, trans. by John J. O’Meara, Ancient Christian Writers (New York; Mahwah, NJ: Newman Press, 1954), XIX - [Origen On Prayer](https://www.ecatholic2000.com/fathers/origen.shtml) - [Origen, On Prayer (Unknown date). Translation](https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/origen_on_prayer_02_text.htm) - [Origen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen) - [Early Christian Prayer and Identity Formation](https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%93%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81/+%20%D0%9D%D0%B5%20%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%BE%20%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5/ENG/Early%20Christian%20Prayer%20and%20Identity%20Formation.pdf) 10. (Maybe before 238 - 244 AD (Maybe 220 - 230 AD in Alexandria?)) Origen of Alexandria (c. 185 – c. 253 AD) Origen (185-253 AD) Homily on Numbers 2:1-34 - [Homilies On Numbers](https://vdoc.pub/download/homilies-on-numbers-656uqi23omg0) - [Homilies on Numbers](https://books.google.bg/books/about/Homilies_on_Numbers.html?id=P4pPyRXeWkUC&redir_esc=y) - [Origen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen) 11. (c. 185 – c. 253 AD) Origen of Alexandria (Similar to Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 7.7.43–46;) (Origen - Homily on the Third book of Moses) (Origen - Homilies on Leviticus) - [Homilies on Leviticus 1-16 (Fathers of the Church)](https://dokumen.pub/homilies-on-leviticus-1-16-fathers-of-the-church-0813200830-9780813200835.html) - [Няма налична електронна книга](https://books.google.bg/books?id=Eo9Da7xaBuUC&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=%20from%20the%20east&f=false) Old Testament: Leviticus 16:14-16 (I think that the priest that sprinkles with the figner is facing West, facing the mercy seat - sprinkles on the mercy seat - the eastern direction - I think the face/the front side of the mercy seat and before the mercy seat - the priest seems to look towards the West, not East? In the Old Testement) 12. (330-379 AD) Basil the great St. Basil the Great, The Holy Spirit, 27,66 Basil, De Spir. Sancto 27.66; - [De Spiritu Sancto](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3203.htm) 13. (c.335 – 394 AD) Gregory of Nyssa (Similar to Basil the Great, The Holy Spirit, 27,66) Gregory of Nyssa - Homily 5 on Lord's Prayer (Adam in Us) - [Homily 5 - Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors. And Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From The Evil One.](https://orthodoxprayer.org/Articles_files/GregoryNyssa-Homily5%20Lords%20Prayer.html) - [Why do many old churches face east?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/62632/why-do-many-old-churches-face-east/80757#80757) 14. (c. 313 - 386 AD) Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystogogic Catecheses XXXIII, 1073 B. as quoted in Jean Danielou, The Bible and the Liturgy, 30. - [Catechetical Lectures 13-23 (incl. Mystagogical Catecheses)](https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/catechetical-lectures-1323-incl-mystagogical-catecheses-9085) - [Early Christian Prayer and Identity Formation](https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%93%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81/+%20%D0%9D%D0%B5%20%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%BE%20%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5/ENG/Early%20Christian%20Prayer%20and%20Identity%20Formation.pdf) 15. (3th. c. - late 4th. c. AD? - Syria?) Didascalia Apostolorum - The Teaching of the Apostles (1) The Holy Apostles have therefore decreed, first, that people should pray towards the East, because, that as the lightning that flashes from the East, and is seen unto the West, thus shall be the coming of the Son of Man. By this let us know and understand when we pray, that He shall be seen from the East, and towards it we expect Him and we worship Him. Commandments from the writing of Addai the Apostle. (Syrian Didascalia Apostolorum/Didascalia Addai, Teaching of the Apostles/Teaching of the Apostle Addai) - [The Teaching of the Apostles](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0854.htm) - [The *Didascalia Apostolorum* in English](https://ia600205.us.archive.org/9/items/didascaliaaposto00gibsuoft/didascaliaaposto00gibsuoft.pdf) - [Facing east](https://tradice.net/2016/04/2016-04-14/#gsc.tab=0) Source say - Mentioned by Ephiphanius - (Haer. 70) refers to the Audians’ use of the Didascalia to justify their Quartodeciman practice. The text is called τῶν ἀποστόλων διάταξις; - [The reception history of the Didascalia](https://ancientchurchorders.wordpress.com/tag/epiphanius/) At the end of the 4th century it is quoted in the Pseudo-Chrysostom's *Opus Imperfectum in Matthaeum*. - [*Didascalia Apostolorum*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didascalia_Apostolorum) John Damascus may have his interpretations on (Matthew 24:27, Luke 17:24) from the *Didascalia Apostolorum*. 16. (c. 339 – 397 AD) Ambrose of Milan Bishop Ambrose’ De Mysteriis, (Myst. 2.7) - [Early Christian Prayer and Identity Formation](https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%93%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81/+%20%D0%9D%D0%B5%20%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%BE%20%D0%B3%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5/ENG/Early%20Christian%20Prayer%20and%20Identity%20Formation.pdf) 17. (354 - 430 AD) Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo, Augustine, Sermon on the Mount 2.5.18: - [ Our Lord’s Sermon On The Mount, according to Matthew](https://documentacatholicaomnia.eu/03d/0354-0430,_Augustinus,_De_Sermone_Domini_In_Monte_Secundum_Matthaeum_[Schaff],_EN.pdf) - [On the Sermon on the Mount, Book II](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/16012.htm) 18. (c. 342–347 – 420 AD) Jerome - commentary on Ezekiel 8:1; - [Commentary on the Prophet Ezekiel](https://historicalchristian.faith/by_father.php?file=Jerome%2FCommentary%2520on%2520Ezekiel.html) - [Ефрем Сирин, прп. (†373)](https://azbyka.ru/biblia/in/?Ezek.8:16&r) 19. (c. 450 AD) - Pope Leo I (Leo the great) (c. 391 – 461 AD) - Leo the Great in Sermon XXVII Leo the Great, Sermons, ed. by Thomas P. Halton, trans. by Jane Patricia Freeland and Agnes Josephine Conway, The Fathers of the Church (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1996), XCIII, 113: - [Why do many old churches face east?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/62632/why-do-many-old-churches-face-east) - [Sermon 27](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360327.htm) 20. (c. AD 675/676 - 749 AD) John of Damascus Chapter 12. Concerning Worship towards the East. - [An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Book IV)](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/33044.htm) - [John of Damascus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Damascus) St. John of Damascus, John Damascene, Three Treatises on the Divine Images 2.16