Our Physical Orientation is West-East
All three Altars at St. John’s face east.
This eastern orientation is important. The rising of the sun in the east each day as Mass was celebrated was seen as a symbol of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and also a reminder of His Second Coming.
The east is a symbol of Heaven. As we hear in the Book of Revelation, when Our Lord return’s in glory He ushers in the “new Heaven and a new earth: for the first Heaven and the first earth were passed away.” (Rev 21:1).
Saint John’s is constructed in the form of a cross and the main sanctuary is divided into three sacred areas: the Narthex, the Nave, and the Sanctuary with an attached Lady Chapel.
The building is in a classic “cruciform shape”. This shape combined with the vaulting arches lift our eyes Heavenward and our thoughts and heart to prayer. The cruciform shape recalls how Christian disciples are daily called to walk in the way of the cross. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23).
