Ad Orientem/Orientation/面向东方

Ad Orientem/Orientation/面向东方

为初期教会而言，面向东方是一个非常重要的礼仪姿势，并且深深地影响了初期教堂的建筑。有学者指出，位于幼发拉底河中部Dura Europos家中的房间——基督徒聚会的地方——就是面向东方的。大部分东方礼教堂的建筑一开始就有面向东方的做法（The Apse on the east side），罗马的教堂，如拉特朗、伯多禄及保禄大殿，开始时是在西边的，即所谓的western Apse，但从420年开始，这些教堂的至圣所便开始面向东方/朝东。因此，原来位于教堂顶端的主教座不得不移向至圣所的边侧，好使主祭与会众向着同一的方向——东方——祈祷。尽管，以前，主祭举行礼仪时是面向会众的。
为什么要面向"东方" 呢？不言而喻，这是犹太人的"传统"。犹太人一天中有多次祈祷的习惯，但不能亲临圣殿祈祷，于是他们在家打开窗户向着耶路撒冷圣殿祈祷；被充军到巴比伦的犹太人亦是如此，面向东方祈祷。我们可以在希伯来文圣经中找到有力的证据，即《达尼尔先知书》：“达尼尔一知道君王签署了这项文告，便回了家。他楼房的窗户是向着耶路撒冷开的——他每天仍照常三次屈膝跪拜，祈求称谢自己的天主”（6：11）。今天，虔诚的犹太人仍面向耶路撒冷圣殿祈祷，期待来临默西亚的/默西亚的来临（the coming Messiah）。
基督徒继承了"犹太人的这种传统"，但是，基督徒面向东方，是因为基督徒相信基督是“东升的朝阳”（the rising Sun），并且相信基督将再次从东方光荣地降来（the returning Lord in the east）：“如同闪电从东方发出，直照到西方，人子的来临也要这样”（玛24：27）。显然，这具有末世的幅度，这也是和犹太人面向东方的不同之处。
但随着时间的流逝，这种意识在历史的过程中渐渐被淡忘了，慢慢地消失了。梵二后的今天，对初期基督徒面向东方的祈祷的这种意识好像不复存在、荡然无存。或许，天主真的不希望基督徒忘记这古老的传统，当今的教宗——本笃十六——就多次提醒关于“Ad Orientem”的问题。近来，越来越多的主教也开始注意到这一个问题(http://www.zenit.org/article-26633?l=english)，这应该不是一个坏现象。
Tulsa Bishop Explains Why He "Faces East"
Expresses Desire to Recover "Authentic" Worship
TULSA, Oklahoma, AUG. 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The bishop of Tulsa explains his decision to celebrate Mass at the diocesan cathedral "ad orientem" -- facing east -- as an effort to recapture a "more authentic" Catholic worship.Bishop Edward Slattery affirmed this in an article featured in the September edition of the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic, titled "Ad Orientem: Revival of Ancient Rite Brings Multiple Advantages, Some Misperceptions."In a discussion about liturgy, the prelate said, it is necessary to grasp this "essential" truth: "At Mass, Christ joins us to himself as he offers himself in sacrifice to the Father for the world's redemption."He reminded his readers that "all of the faithful offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice as members of Christ's body" through baptism.The priest has a unique role in this offering, the bishop affirmed, to stand "in the person of Christ, the historic Head of the Mystical Body, so that, at Mass, it is the whole body of Christ -- Head and members together that make the offering."Bishop Slattery explained that "from ancient times, the position of the priest and the people reflected this understanding of the Mass."As well, he added, "everyone -- celebrant and congregation -- faced the same direction, since they were united with Christ in offering to the Father Christ's unique, unrepeatable and acceptable sacrifice."The prelate continued: "When we study the most ancient liturgical practices of the Church, we find that the priest and the people faced in the same direction, usually toward the east, in the expectation that when Christ returns, he will return 'from the east.' "At Mass, the Church keeps vigil, waiting for that return. This single position is called 'ad orientem,' which simply means 'toward the east.'"This traditional posture lasted for nearly 18 centuries in the Church, he noted, as something that was handed on from the time of the Apostles.Journey togetherThe bishop observed that this single eastward position "reveals the nature of the Mass" as an act of worship shared by the priest and the congregation.However, he said, this "shared orientation was lost" as the priest and people became accustomed to facing opposite directions.Bishop Slattery explained, "This innovation was introduced after the Vatican Council, partly to help the people understand the liturgical action of the Mass by allowing them to see what was going on, and partly as an accommodation to contemporary culture where people who exercise authority are expected to face directly the people they serve, like a teacher sitting behind her desk."Unfortunately, he added, this change had some "unforeseen and largely negative effects."Not only was it a "serious rupture with the Church’s ancient tradition," the prelate asserted, but it also "can give the appearance that the priest and the people were engaged in a conversation about God, rather than the worship of God."He stated that it also "places an inordinate importance on the personality of the celebrant by placing him on a kind of liturgical stage."The bishop noted Benedict XVI's appeal to "draw upon the ancient liturgical practice of the Church to recover a more authentic Catholic worship."He continued, "For that reason, I have restored the venerable 'ad orientem' position when I celebrate Mass at the cathedral."This gesture, he stated, is not one of rudeness or hostility toward the faithful, nor an attempt to "turn back the clock."Rather, Bishop Slattery affirmed, it represents the fact that "we journey together to God."As well, he continued, it is an attempt to respond to the Pope's invitation to "discover what underlies this ancient tradition and made it viable for so many centuries, namely, the Church's understanding that the worship of the Mass is primarily and essentially the worship which Christ offers to his Father."