THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The land of Judea was home to many cities and towns, yet the Lord decreed that the offerings and observance of the Passover should exclusively take place in the sacred city. This directive emphasizes that the administration of Christ's sacrament cannot be carried out in just any way or location; there exists only one rightful and truly fitting place for it, which is the holy city, that is, the Church. It is here that the legitimate priest officiates, offering the sacrifice with consecrated hands, as ‘incense is offered to God Almighty, and the sacrifice is pure,’ in accordance with the prophet’s words (Malachi 1:11).
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Thus, the heretics, who distort all that is righteous, disregard this command; they offer sacrifices of the lamb, not within the holy city or through those chosen by the Spirit for the priesthood, but as the Apostle Paul warns, they claim this ‘honor’ for themselves (Hebrews 5:4) and conduct sacrifices wherever they choose. Like unruly and restless oxen, they aimlessly chase after their desires. Yet such rebelliousness will result in harsh consequences imposed by the Judge if they succumb to their erratic behavior. Instead, we shall uphold the tried and true path, reflecting on the ordinance of the law we’ve just quoted, which you have already heard clearly articulated in the phrase, ‘Keep the month of Abib...kill the passover to the Lord thy God of small and large cattle.’ One may argue that God had commanded a lamb for those in Egypt without any mention of sheep or oxen. Did Moses then deviate from divine instruction? Not at all; for in the book of Numbers, the Lord commanded the inclusion of oxen and sheep along with the lamb, stating, ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, the passover of the Lord. And on the fifteenth day of this month it shall be a feast; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall perform no labor; and you shall offer a sacrifice, a burnt offering to the Lord: Of cattle two bullocks, one ram, and seven yearling lambs; they shall be without blemish. And with them you shall offer a grain offering of wheat flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for every bullock, and two tenths of an ephah for each ram, and one tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs, and one goat for a sin-offering for your cleansing; beyond the morning burnt offering, which is a continual burnt offering, you shall offer this. And for each of the seven days, you shall present this sacrifice; it is a bread offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord; in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation, you shall offer this. On the seventh day, you shall hold a holy convocation; you shall do no work’ (Num. 28:16-25).