ad orientem

adverb

Facing liturgical east, that is, in the same direction as (and thus, away from) the congregation.

OriginLatin ad orientem →
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Meanings

adverbad orientem (not comparable)
  1. not comparableChristianityFacing liturgical east, that is, in the same direction as (and thus, away from) the congregation.
adjectivead orientem (not comparable)
  1. not comparableChristianityDescribing worship facing liturgical east.

    For that reason, I have restored the venerable ad orientem position when I celebrate Mass at the Cathedral.

    2009 September, Edward J. Slattery, “From the bishop: Ad orientem”, in Eastern Oklahoma Catholic, archived from the original on 10 Feb 2012, page 3
    1 more example

    It was catechism by incense, rood screens, gorgeous vestments and ad orientem Masses chanted from high altars that scrape the heavens.

    2019 August 15, Michael Rennier, “Liturgy wars? Younger Catholics just want reverence”, in Catholic Herald
nounad orientem (uncountable)
  1. abbreviationellipsisuncountableChristianityEllipsis of ad orientem worship or ad orientem posture.

    Fr Kalathil says that just like there is a demand for Versus Populum in Ernakulam-Angamaly there are strong proponents of Ad Orientem in other dioceses.

    2022 August 27, Disney Tom, “Altar ego”, in The Times of India
    1 more example

    One faction within the Syro-Malabar Church favored the use of ad orientem in the liturgy — "to the east," with the presider's back to the congregation.

    2021 August 5, Matt Kappadakunnel, “A call to communion: Pope Francis' letter to the Syro-Malabar Church”, in National Catholic Reporter

Origin

  1. Latinad orientem
  2. Englishad orientem

Unadapted borrowing from Latin ad orientem (literally “to the east”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ad orientem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ad%20orientem

MLA

“ad orientem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ad%20orientem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ad orientem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ad%20orientem.

Source: ad orientem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.