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Articles

• Liritzis, Ioannis
• Vassiliou, Helen

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 questionexamined is if the day of solar rise across the eastern direction of the Church is related with the feastday of Patron Saint. Measurements were carried out with magnetic compass, inclinometer, portableGPS and appropriate corrections for the solar declination. The alignments towards eastern sunrisewere examined for various angular altitudes of the perceptible horizon. At least for all Rhodeanchurches the patron's day is met when sun's oblique path crosses horizon a few degrees beyond theintersection of extrapolated eastern axis of the church with horizon's skyline. Therefore, taken theorientation as the glitter of first sunrays - early dawn- correlation of thirteen present churches arealigned near the autumnal equinox, three have relation with the feast of Patron Saint, four are relatedto 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 theRhodean alignments coincides with Saint's name day.

• Humanities

• Αρχαιολογία

Byzantine churches, Rhodes, orientation, Αzimuth, Ηorizon, Saint's day, Gregorian date, Julian date