In baptism, the person being baptized and the Godparents stand facing westward as a symbol of renouncing Satan, then they turn eastward to recite The Creed.
Facing east is an ancient tradition, grounded in sure knowledge about the Second Coming. It was told by The Lord “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). Then repeated by an angel after the disciples had just seen the Lord ascend into heaven “…Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) We believe that our Lord ascended on the Mount of Olives, and when He comes back, He will come on a cloud from the East. Therefore, we face east when we pray.
Ezekiel saw the “glory of the Lord” when facing East, “And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east.” Ezekiel 43:1, 2
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