ad orientem adjective 1adverb 1noun 1 adjective1 •Describing worship facing liturgical east.For that reason, I have restored the venerable ad orientem position when I celebrate Mass at the Cathedral. — 2009 adverb1 •Facing liturgical east, that is, in the same direction as (and thus, away from) the congregation. noun1 •Ellipsis of ad orientem worship or ad orientem posture.One faction within the Syro-Malabar Church favored the use of ad orientem in the liturgy — "to the east," with the presider's back to the congregation. — 2021
