Leviticus 21:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He shall take a maiden for a wife...: a widow, or a rejected woman, or a defiled woman, or a harlot, shall he not take, but a maiden of his people shall he take for a wife; he shall not defile his seed among his people: for I am the Lord... who sanctify him" (Lev. 21:10-15). Here, one can see the figures of Immanuel and Christ represented in Aaron: He is anointed with the Spirit as described in Scripture (Isaiah 11:2, 42, etc.), embodying the essence of the perfect Priest. Thus, He also possesses the intrinsic glory of the priesthood. It is stated, "let him not," meaning he should not shed his priestly garments; for it is declared of the Redeemer, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Psalms 109:4). "Moreover those priests were many, because death did not permit one to abide alone; but this One, as He who abides forever, also has an everlasting priesthood; therefore He can always save those who come to God through Him," as noted by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 7:23-25). Thus, the instruction to keep the kiddar on the head represents the indispensable nature of the priesthood. If we add, "Let him not remove the mitre from his head," it highlights the stability and steadfastness of his reign: the mitre, adorned with a golden plate on the forehead, symbolizes governance and authority. However, "let it not be stripped" refers to a practice not befitting Christ, as life is impervious to the suffering of death. Death holds no significance against life; rather, it comprises both the resolution of death and the defeat of decay. Similarly, the Savior once prohibited those grieving for the daughter of the synagogue leader, stating: "Depart, and weep not: for the maiden is not dead, but asleep" (Matthew 9:24). It would be foolish to mourn the maiden as if she were truly dead while the Life itself, Christ, was present. Although He wept for Lazarus (John 11:35), it was a reflection of love, stemming from His compassion, as His divine nature could not be unmoved by the anguish of death, leading to tears as a form of empathy and the alleviation of suffering.

Cyril emphasizes that there is nothing impure in Christ, as indicated by the directive that a bishop must avoid contact with the dead, refraining from honoring even close relatives. This demonstrates the wisdom of the law and its emphasis on the spiritual purity of its observances. While provisions are made for other priests regarding interactions with the dead, the high esteem of the Great Hierarch, Christ, remains untarnished by any semblance of sin, emphasizing His inherent holiness and immunity from corruption. He embodies brightness and spiritual cleanness and maintains perfect sanctity, demonstrated by his abiding nature that aligns with divine principles, thereby eternally retaining His position.

Moreover, it is made abundantly clear that the wife chosen for union must be a virgin, excluding those who are rejected from this bond. This reflects the symbolism of the Jewish synagogue, which is estranged from Him, as He declares through the prophet, "For she is not my wife, neither am I her husband" (Hosea 2:2). In contrast, Paul presents the church of the Gentiles as "espoused to Christ as a pure virgin, not having spot, or blemish, or any such thing, but that she should be holy and blameless" (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2 with Eph. 5:27). This comparison between the church of the Gentiles and the Jewish synagogue is profound and beautifully articulated. Furthermore, we acknowledge that Christ does not engage with wicked and unholy souls; instead, He unites with the holy and pure, as with virgins, making them fruitful and designating them as His own: "For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven," He says, "the same is My brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50).