THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril notes that various forms of impurity carry the necessity for cleansing, which is fulfilled in Christ. He states: ‘If anyone commits a sin after hearing a curse, acting as a witness or seeing it without declaring it, he will bear the guilt. If one comes into contact with anything unclean, such as the remains of an unclean animal or creeping creatures, and remains unaware, he is still considered unclean and guilty. If he touches the defilement of another person, irrespective of what it is, and later realizes his fault, he carries guilt. Similarly, if anyone carelessly swears an oath regarding any matter, be it good or evil, and is unaware at the time but becomes aware later, he is guilty of that oath.
Read more (115 words)
When an individual acknowledges their sin concerning any of these matters, they should offer to the Lord a sacrifice, either a sheep or a goat, to atone for that transgression, and the priest shall pronounce them clean from their sin’ (Leviticus 5:1-6). It follows that one who hears an oath and is entirely innocent may still inadvertently share in other impurities, consequently being judged guilty of a false oath. The most profound impurity and the gravest sin is a disregard for God, closely related to the carnal forms of uncleanness. Should we not consider a cursed false oath and disdain for oaths equally significant? Palladius agrees, as the faults in each scenario are indeed comparable.