Orthodox Icon of the Prodigal Son

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Sunday before Meatfare
A Hymn of Repentance (Tone 8)
Do thou make straight for me the paths of salvation, O Theotokos; for I have defiled my soul with shameful sins, having wasted my whole life in slothfulness. By thine intercessions, deliver me from all impurity.

The Synaxarion for this parable explains the importance of the Prodigal Son to God and to us: "In the parable of our Savior tells, Jesus illustrates three things: the condition of the sinner, the canon of repentance and the knowledge of God's compassion. For in the person of the Prodigal son, we view the wretched condition that sin creates for us, distant from God and his sacraments. However, we become aware of ourselves and awaken, hastening with hope to return to him through repentance. Our Savior wants to call back to his mansions all those who have been overtaken by despair, lacking hope of forgiveness for their grave sins. The Father encourages all of his lost children to remove the desperation from their hearts, and revive their energies for virtuous deeds."

This icon shows Christ at the door of the Church welcoming the prodigal home. The Church allows Confession to take place on any day of the year, even Pascha! Now is the day of repentance! Today is the day of salvation! A funeral can take place on any day of the year, as necessity demands. We can die at any time, on any day. So, the death to self, in Confession and Repentance, can take place at any time, and is welcomed by Christ with a resurrectional greeting. His banner reads, "For this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found."

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from St. George's Orthodox Church in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

Order # inp-74