THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
He instructed that three cities be designated as cities of refuge for those escaping unintentional transgressions. Those who were fleeing from inadvertent offenses were permitted to seek safety there. He established a period of atonement for these individuals, marked by the death of the high priest. In the book of Numbers, it is written: "If he should push him unintentionally, without animosity, or should throw something upon him without intention, or should drop a stone upon him without seeing it, resulting in death, but he was not his enemy and did not wish him harm, then the congregation sh
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all judge between the murderer and the avenger of blood according to these rules; and the congregation shall deliver the murderer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and shall return him to the city of his refuge where he fled, that he may live there until the death of the high priest who is anointed with holy oil" (Num. 35:22-25). A few verses later it continues, "and after the death of the high priest the murderer shall return to the land of his possession" (Num. 35:28). Palladius noted that the end of their exile coincides with the death of the priest mentioned. Cyril responded that this is the visible representation of deeper truths; within these shadows lies the mystery of Christ. Palladius inquired how this could be interpreted. Cyril explained that it might not be unreasonable to view those ensnared by sin as akin to murderers of their own souls, having stumbled into this dire condition not by choice but through compulsion towards wrongdoing and an offense against God. For "the thoughts of man's heart are evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21), driven by the relentless law of overwhelming desires of the flesh (Rom. 7:23-25). Thus, the afflicted soul of humanity faced punishment through estrangement from the world and the body, imprisoned like someone in a city of refuge in the depths of death. This state persisted until Christ, the Great Priest, who underwent death for all, descended into Hades and opened the gates for those in the underworld, liberating them from their chains, proclaiming to the "prisoners: ‘come out,’ and to those in darkness: ‘show yourselves’" (Is. 49:9). Palladius responded, acknowledging the clarity in this message.