Orthodox Icon of Prophet Jonah

Prophet Jonah COPYRIGHTED ART. Please do not copy or deep-link to it withour prior permission of "COME AND SEE" Icons, Books & Art.

September 22nd
Troparion (Tone 2)
Verily, we celebrate the memory of thy Prophet Jonah. Through him we implore thee, O Lord, save our souls.

Jonah was a reluctant, even rebellious prophet, but God had a way of making him willing to obey. He preached to the gentile city of Nineveh and multitudes repented and were spared God's wrath. The "great fish" that God prepared is a picture of "Sheol" or the grave. The song of Jonah is one of the Nine Odes of the Canon, which special hymns are taken from throughout the Church year. His time in the whale's belly was a strong prefigurement of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Jesus said: "Even as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, even so must the Son of Man spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Some have said that God prepared the "great fish" in anticipation of Jonah during the Creation week of Genesis. It says, "And God created great whales ..." (Genesis 1:21). This word in the Hebrew for "create" is only used three times in the Creation story: 1) God created the heaven and the earth 2) God created man 3) God created great whales! It indicates a special act of creation. This was a very important type of Christ and a preaching to all the world.

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, PA. It was installed on September 28, 2001. Joseph of "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art had the privilege of assisting in the installation.

Order #phn-22