Ten curtains = churches; four/twenty-eight cubits; law narrow, Christ eighth

Palladius: You have spoken well.

Cyril: If then someone should choose to speak very thinly, the word upon each would become long and many-branched. And one must know that some things of vessels are near contemplation and mystical words, and some have been crafted unto adornment and need of the tent; and having cut the length of the word as is possible, I will speak in short things, and will draw together the narration. He said then that ‘And you will make the tent ten curtains, from twisted linen, and hyacinth and purple, and twisted scarlet. With cherubim, a work of a weaver, you will make them; length of the one curtain, eight and twenty cubits, and breadth of four cubits the one curtain will be; the same measure will be for all the curtains. And five curtains will be held together from one another, one from the other, and five curtains will be held together, one to the other.’ (Exodus 26:1–3) So then ten are the curtains; and held tight to one another; for many are the abodes with the Father, and of those dwelling in them somehow one and holy is the aim of all, and one also the knowledge about God. For in peace God has called us, according to what has been written. And receive, if it seems good, the ten curtains, and think them to be the fullness of the Churches unto adornment of the world, not scattered unto discord, or unto a dissonant glory, but united in spirit, and somehow as compressed into one according to the unity in Christ through faith. For everywhere and in all one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And breadth for each of the curtains four cubits, and eight and twenty the length. And the riddle is both over-busy and thin, yet I think it shows darkly and dimly that the training through law is also somehow acceptable in Churches, being most narrow because of the unclear of the letter; yet as time advances unto length, it will have as end the mystery about Christ—that is, the eighth, or the resurrection that has become in an eighth. For end of law and prophets is Christ, toward whom also the divine David has cried up: ‘Very broad is your commandment.’ (Ephesians 4:5) And the divine Paul also writes to those who have preferred the worship in law to the faith unto Christ: ‘Our mouth has opened toward you, Corinthians; our heart has been broadened; you are not narrowed in us, but you are narrowed in your bowels. And the same repayment as to children I say. Be broadened also yourselves; do not become differently yoked with unbelievers.’ (John 14:2) You see that wanting to lie beside the Jews who have disobeyed and still speak the things in law after the faith makes one be narrowed?

Palladius: I understand.

Cyril: And sails for the curtains from twisted linen, and hyacinth and purple, and twisted scarlet. For many-colored is the adornment of the Church. This indeed also the divine David sings, saying somehow thus concerning her: ‘The queen stood at your right in a gold-through clothing, wrapped, (Psalm 119:96) (2 Corinthians 6:11–14) (Psalm 45:9)