Why are churches built in a direction?

Answer 1

The reasons are cultural, religious and social as well. Take for instance Gothic shapes, where the cathedral reigns: it had very high ceilings and pinnacles in order to try to reach the heavens, while inside the painted glasses would create dancing colored lights when the sun shone through them, creating a mystic ambiance. Roman churches (not the ones in Rome, but the ones of the Roman Period), a couple of hundred years before than Gothic ones, were basically a fortress: very high windows and 15 inches thick walls, made not to impress but to stand against the barbaric invasions. Later on, during the Baroque period, to show off opulence course, as nothing was too good for God, and Mannerism characterized statues and images of Jesus and other saints as realistically possible as could be. It may sound boring, but Churches are actually GREAT to know about.

Answer 2

In most major religions, the position taken in prayer and the layout of holy places is determined by a "sacred direction."

The sacred direction in Judaism is toward Jerusalem or, more precisely, toward the presence of the transcendent God - "shekinah" - in the Holy of Holies of the Temple, as seen in Daniel 6:10.

Early Christians no longer turned toward the earthly Jerusalem, but toward the new, heavenly Jerusalem. It was their firm belief that when the Risen Christ would come again in glory, he would gather his faithful to make up this heavenly city.

They saw in the rising sun a symbol of the Resurrection and of the Second Coming, and it was a matter of course for them to pray facing this direction. There is strong evidence of eastward prayer in most parts of the Christian world from the second century onward.

For this reason most churches are aligned so that the congregation is facing East when praying in the Church. However, this is not a universal requirement and many churches face other directions.

Answer 3

its like a steeple.

Traditional Church buildings are often in the shape of a cross and frequently have a tower or a dome. Modern Church buildings have a variety of shapes