Truth’s altar needs no pagan cosmetics; princes’ wagons/oxen; Judah’s first gift

Cyril: …just as indeed also the unseemly things of the women. And for the divine altar flashing with the beauty of the truth, of what outside helps, or random adornments, was there need? For the divine is not approachable through worldly delight, nor with a mind somehow relaxed and kindling toward the fleshly things, but as in a sober understanding and looking much toward the above and in heavens. If entirely there was also under trunks perhaps, as having come to be from itself somewhere a divine altar, the matter would have wronged nothing the firm and genuine worshipper of the Savior; but since the practice is entirely Greek, the imitation must be declined, and the resembling of the custom, just as indeed, for the faithful and stood mind toward true knowledge, there is no idol in world, nor is there an idol-sacrifice, yet to eat is not allowed, another charging through the conscience of the weaker; ‘For why am I judged by another conscience? If I share by grace, why am I blasphemed, for what I give thanks?’ (1 Corinthians 8:4) So then the matter is well-reputed beside God—I mean to decline the same-working toward Greeks, as both in the setting of the altars, and in the customs and manners concerning religion.

Palladius: I agree.

Cyril: And that one must fruit-bear unto glory of God, and not go into the holy tent having empty hands, the sacred Letter was clarifying again for us, holding thus in the Numbers: ‘And it came to be, on which day Moses finished, so as to raise the tent, and he anointed it, and sanctified it, and all its vessels, and the altar, and all its vessels, and he anointed them, and sanctified them. And the rulers of Israel brought forward, twelve rulers of houses of their families… And they brought their gift opposite Lord, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen, a wagon from two rulers, and a calf from each. And they brought forward opposite the tent. And Lord said toward Moses, saying: Take from them, and they will be toward the liturgical works of the tent of the testimony, and you will give them to the Levites each according to his liturgy.’ (1 Corinthians 10:29–30) And not as far as these were the things from the tribe-rulers; and other things have also been brought forward in addition. For it has been written, ‘And the rulers brought forward unto the inauguration of the altar, on the day on which he anointed it… And Lord said toward Moses: One ruler according to day, a ruler according to day will bring forward their gifts unto the inauguration of the altar. And the one bringing forward on the first day his gift was Naasson son of Aminadab, ruler of the tribe of Judah. And he brought forward his gift, one silver bowl, one hundred thirty its weight; one silver bowl, seventy shekels according to the holy shekel (Numbers 7:1–13) (Numbers 7:1–12).