Cast-out wife; Synagogue fornication burned; high priest Aaron = Christ image

Cyril: …the denunciation. And the cast-out is nowhere unchargeable. For she would not suffer without cause the needing to be shaken off from the hearth of the one being with her. Therefore those led unto the thus solemn liturgy must not somehow only hold off from evils having upon themselves the most manifest and uncovered condemnation, but also from every deed, I think, to which a reputation of baseness would follow, and a not-good suspicion, and the unseemly in very many suspicions. And the word seems also to hint the misfortune of the Synagogue of the Jews, which, because she has prostituted unto many shepherds, according to what has been written, Christ the all-pure priest did not accept unto spiritual partnership, the one dedicating himself as it were some exceptional gift over us to the Father, the holy with us according to the human, though he himself sanctifies all the creation, as from God and God. And he was finishing a clearer showing of the mystery saying: ‘And a daughter of a human priest, if she should be profaned of prostituting out, she herself profanes the name of her father; she will be burned upon fire.’ (Leviticus 21:7) For she has been given unto flame, as unholy and profane, the Synagogue of the Jews, following the opinions of the Scribes and Pharisees, and dedicating her whole mind to commandments of humans. Therefore also very justly she was hearing the prophet saying: ‘How did you become a prostitute, faithful city Zion, full of judgment?’ (Leviticus 21:9) So then having prostituted out, and having altogether neglected the from-above and spiritual bridegroom, she has become food of fire. Therefore also prophet Jeremiah dripping a bitter tear upon her says: ‘A beautiful olive well-shaded in look the Lord called your name; unto a voice of her circumcision, fire was kindled upon her; great the affliction upon you. Her branches were made useless, and Lord of the powers who planted you spoke evils upon you.’ (Isaiah 1:21) So then a manner of the intelligible prostitution is the inclining away from rightness, and seeking to lie upon shameful and unholy teachers.

Palladius: Thus I say.

Cyril: And dimmer than the things said are the types, and not very clear upon at least the other priests, yet they shine up as it were in Aaron bearing an image of Christ. For he said again: ‘And the great priest from his brothers, of the oil of the anointed having been poured upon the head, and having been perfected to put on the garments, will not un-turban the head,’ (Jeremiah 11:16) or will not un-mitre, ‘and will not tear apart the garments, and upon every soul having died will not enter, upon his father nor upon his mother will not be defiled, and from the holy things will not go out, and will not profane the sanctified of his God because the holy anointed oil of his God is upon him. I am Lord. This one will take a virgin woman from his race, but a widow and cast-out and profaned and prostitute, these he will not take, but either a virgin from his people he will take as wife. And he will not profane his seed in his people (Leviticus 21:10–15).