THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The unique legacies, along with the cities that have been reclaimed, are bestowed by God upon the holy priests as a divine reward; yet, the glorious Jerusalem is designated as a shared inheritance for all. This concept is affirmed in Deuteronomy: “And if a Levite shall come from one of your dwellings, out of all the land of the children of Israel, where he lived, and shall come, according to the desire of his soul, to the place which the Lord shall choose, and shall serve in the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites who stand there before the Lord—then let them enjoy the same portion, in addition to what they received from the sale of their father's property” (Deuteronomy 18:6-8).
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Just as there is one God for all priests, those who have been elevated to this sacred role and chosen by divine decree must stand in unity. Although each priest has his designated city and inheritance, he is welcomed into the priesthood if he travels from one city to another and shares in fellowship with the priests, being honored in accordance with the laws of love. This principle appears to convey a deeper mystery; for there are countless lands and cities across the universe where devout and godly souls serve God, living in accordance with His law and embodying the Gospel, thereby offering spiritual sacrifices to Him through faith, hope, love, patience, humility, and charity toward the impoverished. “For such sacrifices are pleasing to God,” as stated in Scripture (Hebrews 13:16). Yet, they all seem to converge toward a singular and universal origin: “to the heavenly Jerusalem, … the church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:22-23), the most splendid city, “the true tabernacle, which the Lord has pitched, and not man” (Heb. 8:2). In that realm, the pure will serve, for sin will be entirely removed from us, and predators will not be found there, as there will be no lion, serpent, basilisk, or aspid: “And it shall be there…,” as it is written, “the way therein shall be called the way of the holy one…” (Heb. 8:2). The lion shall not be present, nor shall any fierce beast ascend upon it” (Isaiah 35:8-9). There, we shall partake of the appointed bounties, for it is written, “The fruit of your labors shall you eat” (Ps. 127:2). Will there not be a rewarding return of blessings, albeit in greater abundance, in accordance with the Lord's generosity, reflecting each individual’s efforts? For it is said, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).