Further solar alignments of Greek Byzantine churches

Abstract

Following the recent work on the solar alignment of Greek Byzantine churches (Liritzis and Vassiliou, 2006 a,b,c), the solar orientations of twenty one more churches are presented. The question examined is if the day of solar rise across the eastern direction of the Church is related with the feast day of Patron Saint. Measurements were carried out with magnetic compass, inclinometer, portable GPS and appropriate corrections for the solar declination. The alignments towards eastern sunrise were examined for various angular altitudes of the perceptible horizon. At least for all Rhodean churches the patron's day is met when sun's oblique path crosses horizon a few degrees beyond the intersection of extrapolated eastern axis of the church with horizon's skyline. Therefore, taken the orientation as the glitter of first sunrays-early dawn-correlation of thirteen present churches are aligned near the autumnal equinox, three have relation with the feast of Patron Saint, four are related to other important feast of Christianity, and one seem orientated randomly. However, accounting fora due east sun position a few degrees above horizon in early liturgy hours (6:30-9:30 am) all the Rhodean alignments coincides with Saint's name day.