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In my OCA Parish there is an Icon of Christ on a podium on the left near the Iconostasis, during confession the priest stands there, and you confess your sins.

Actually, that brings up the question regarding Confession in the Eastern Churches. Is Confession as important in the East as it is in the West? I've never really gotten to ask either an Eastern Catholic or Orthodox person this.

In ROCOR churches you can't even take communion if you don't attend confession. It's strongly encouraged and there is a minimum of at least once a year in the OCA.

Is Confession as important in the East as it is in the West? I've never really gotten to ask either an Eastern Catholic or Orthodox person this.

In the Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Confession is offered up to 1/2 hour before each weekend liturgy. For those who do not avail themselves of this weekly opportunity, the pastor offers 2x year Penance Service. It opens with this hymn:

I yearn for your pardon, O Lord,
Give me tears to repent in this Advent (or Lent) season.
Lord have mercy.

I beg for your favors, O Lord,
For your mercy I thirst, for your kindness and love.
Lord have mercy.

Against you, O Lord, I have sinned,
Hear the cry of my voice, turn your ear to my prayer.
Lord have mercy.

O wash me O Lord from my guilt,
Purify me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord forgive me.

The celebrant then leads us through a series of prayers and responses, followed by 2 readings and the Gospel. The readings for Advent are Baruch 5:1-9 and Phillippians 1:3-6, 8-11. The gospel is Luke 6:27-38. After Father's homily (and he gives very orthodox ones), we proceed with an examination of conscience, followed by private Confession.

As a Roman Catholic, I have found Confession in the Maronite Church to be more spiritual. I'm still in the habit of bringing a 'laundry list' to confession. The pastor smiles and then targets something that he perceives to be an obstacle to my spiritual growth. Sadly, Maronite Catholics, like their Latin cousins, do not avail themselves of Confession on a frequent basis. At the Christmas Vigil liturgy, I was intrigued to see a 'homosexual couple' who are good friends with one of the families, in attendance. They didn't even attempt to go up to communion. (Father no doubt read them the riot act long ago).

This is a very rich and beautiful Sacrament. In other Eastern Churches, the priest may lay his stole on the penitent's head and/or confession is done before an icon. If you have never experienced the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the East, you should give it a try.