Oranten position

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Cardinal Woelki in ornamental position
Early Christian representation of Noah in the ornamental position
Stone tablet with orante and Latin inscription , Catacombs of Domitilla , Rome

The oranten posture is a posture in prayer . The prayer stands with arms outstretched at shoulder height, head either bowed or raised to the sky. In the old church it was widespread, as can be seen from depictions in the Roman catacombs . As Orans or Orante (lat .: "Praying" pl: "Oranten") is referred to in the visual arts the representation of faithful in prayer. Representations of the Adoration can be found z. B. on rock carvings from the Bronze Age or rune stones ( Krogstastenen ).

The cross and Christ crucified are indicated with outspread arms . Eastern and Roman Catholic priests and Lutheran pastors of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church always adopt this attitude when they say a prayer as head of the liturgy . In oriental and Romanesque countries, the ornamental posture has largely remained common among the faithful.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the priest takes the position of the Oranten during the so-called presidential prayers, i.e. during the daily prayer, the prayer for gifts, the preface, the closing prayer and parts of the Eucharistic prayer. This liturgical attitude is also provided for in the prayer of the Our Father, which is not a presidential prayer.

See also

literature

  • Stefan Heid : Posture of prayer and easting in early Christian times. In: Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana 82 (2006 [2008]) pp. 347–404 ( online ; PDF; 3.04 MB)
  • Stefan Heid : Attitude and direction. Basic forms of early Christian prayer. In: communio 38 (6/2009), pp. 611–619 ( online ; PDF, 50 kB)
  • Georg Dietlein: The Oranten position of the people of God. Pray the Lord's Prayer with your hands open. In: Gottesdienst 12/2015, pp. 93–95.

Individual evidence

  1. Hällristningar i Lysekil , accessed June 20, 2018 (Swedish)
  2. Georg Dietlein: The Oranten position of the people of God - Praying the Our Father with hands spread out. In: Gottesdienst 12/2015, pp. 93–95.