Worshiping the Daystar

We Christians worship the Divine Son who is the Sun who enlightens our fallen world. One of my favorite images from the early church is also the earliest known attempt to picture Christ. He, the Light who enlightens everyman, is shown as Helios the Pagan sun god.

Father Rob Johansen has an excellent posting, "People Look East," in which he talks about the beautiful hymn by that name. He then relates the ancient practice of Christians to pray facing the rising sun, symbol of the Risen Son. He uses this to explain the practice, now largely disused, of praying ad orientem: of congregation and priest facing the same way.