Leviticus 1:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

ers, and cast it under the altar on the east side, where the ashes are: and he shall break it in its wings, without separating them: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood which is upon the fire: it is a burnt offering, a sacrifice, a savour pleasing unto the Lord” (Lev. 1:14-17). It is noteworthy how appropriately it reflects that the saints are conformed to Christ; for He is the ultimate and sweetest-voiced turtledove, embodying humility. It is written in the Song of Songs, “the voice of the turtledove is heard in the wilderness” (Song of Songs 2:12). He serves as our exemplar of profound meekness, as He instructed: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Moreover, the saints, who bear Christ's likeness, strive to embody these same virtues. They are symbolically regarded as doves, imparting divine and sacred words, joyfully exalting God. They express, “my tongue ... shall learn thy righteousness,” and they offer praise continuously (Psalm 70:24:14:15). They devote their lives to Christ, following the gentle path of the Gospel, responding to aggression with love, and offering to walk beyond what is required (Matthew 5:39-41). In this way, they present their lives as a sweet aroma to God, much like doves and pigeons. The priest, having severed the head, offers it upon the altar, pouring out the blood, for truly holy is the mindset of the saints, making it suitable for dedication to the Most Holy God. Their thoughts are virtuous and imbued with the peace of true divine knowledge, as stated, “the thoughts of the righteous are right” (Proverbs 12:5). Moreover, the holiness of those who revere God is demonstrated by the necessity of blood being shed on the holy altar, as it symbolizes life. The larynx of the birds, representing the goitre and feathers, is discarded as unnecessary. This signifies that the lives of the saints transcend bodily pleasures, suggesting that earthly sustenance, represented by the womb, is no longer needed. This is particularly true for ascetics, who, by eschewing food and bodily desires, discipline their flesh, freeing themselves from worldly excess. This imagery of shedding feathers indicates the renouncement of earthly comforts. While such provisions are essential for those in the physical realm—like clothing and means of sustenance—holy individuals regard them as inconsequential. Rather, they view the pursuit of such material gains as burdensome, living their lives almost in nakedness, meeting physical needs only when absolutely necessary. After the feathers are removed and the larynx is discarded, the instruction is to “let it be broken” without division and to be lifted up upon the altar. The breaking of the wings serves as a metaphor for the humble attitude of the saints, who do not aspire to lofty thoughts but remain focused on humility (Rom. 12:16). Those proud in spirit often seek the heights, disregarding modest and humble reflections. Hence, the breaking of the wings symbolizes the abandonment of pride. Moreover, the indivisibility of the wings illustrates lives wholly devoted to God, showing that they have not divided their loyalty between Him and the world, as the wise Paul remarked about marital separations (1 Cor. 7:33). Consequently, the minds of the holy are pure, their lives sanctified, transcending earthly delights, unburdened by worldly cares, and adorned with humility, thus ascending as a fragrant offering to God. Palladius concurs.