Beds

[thetraditionalfrog]

I was told by another Orthodox Christian that your bed should always face East. I have never heard of this practice. Is this a monastic practice? What, if anything, does anyone know regarding this?

[spiridon]

I am not sure of this monastic custom, but i do know the one that says that only a single long board that is untreated(meaning ,not painted on) is used to lay on and rest/sleep, thia is what Fr.Gerasim Schmaltz and Father Seraphim rose both of eternal memory used during there monastic life

[DavidHawthorne]

Is there a custom as to which direction we face when we are buried? Since death is a kind of sleep perhaps there is a custom for beds facing the same direction?..............

[spiridon]

well if you keep facing west and move forward you eventually start facing east...the purpose of which way one faces shouldnt matter, but to sign one`s self is...

[GOCPriestMark]

Is there a custom as to which direction we face when we are buried? Since death is a kind of sleep perhaps there is a custom for beds facing the same direction?..............

Orthodox Christians are buried so that when they rise they are facing East, the direction from which our Saviour will return.

As for sleeping in this direction, well, there are no such rules, but if doing so strengthens our reality of mortality and remembrance of death, then it wouldn't be a bad practice.

[DavidHawthorne]

Thank you, Father-

I thought that was the case

Rd. David