Mark 15:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The veil was rent, symbolizing the departure of the Spirit's grace from the temple, indicating that the Holy of Holies would now be unveiled and available to everyone, much like when the Romans entered, leading to the temple’s lamentation. Just as the Jewish people typically expressed their grief by tearing their clothes in times of hardship, the temple, as if it were alive, reflected this sorrow during the Creator's suffering by rending its own garments. However, this act signifies something deeper. Our physical body serves as the veil of our inner being, or mind. Thus, the dominion that the flesh wielded over the spirit has been severed by Christ's suffering, “from the top to the bottom,” which means from Adam to the very last of humankind. For Adam himself experienced sanctification through Christ's passions, ensuring that his flesh is no longer condemned to decay; instead, we are all bestowed with the gift of incorruption.

He relinquishes His spirit yet possesses the authority to take it back (Jn. 10:17-18); the curtain is torn, unveiling the heavenly truths; the rocks are split, and the dead arise (cf. Matt. 27:51-53).

The curtain of the Temple was torn apart, symbolizing that the Lord had taken away the kingdom and entrusted it to others who would produce spiritual fruit, as noted in Matthew 21:43. One interpretation suggests that the tearing of the curtain signifies the destruction of the Temple, indicating that the Spirit had departed from it. Just as the high priest feigned the tearing of his garments (Matthew 26:25; Mark 14:63), the Spirit tore the veil, proclaiming the arrogant pride of the Jewish people through His action upon a created object. In doing so, the high priest effectively relinquished his priesthood, mirroring the Spirit's act of splitting the curtain in two (Matthew 27:51).

Upon the Lord surrendering His spirit to the Father in heaven, an extraordinary sequence of signs emerged. "And the veil of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom." This marks the beginning of the miraculous events chronicled by St. Matthew, who provides a more detailed and precise account than others. The catapetasma in the Jerusalem temple, known as the veil, served to separate the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Sanctuary, as stated in Exodus (Ex. 26:33; Ex. 38:26; 2 Chron. 3:14). This veil was opened only once each year during the day of atonement, when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrificial bull, representing the sins of the entire community, standing before the presence of God.

The entrance of the Savior into the world was marked by remarkable signs in creation, and His passing was no different. A star shone brightly, leading the Magi from the east to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Similarly, a profound darkness enveloped the earth for three hours leading up to His death, accompanied by a great earthquake. At that moment, the rocks near Jerusalem, which served as resting places for the deceased, split apart, entombing the dead, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Simultaneously, within the temple, the curtain that divided the entrance to the Holy of Holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom; the graves were opened, numerous departed saints were resurrected, and after Jesus' resurrection, they went into Jerusalem, making appearances to many. The temple of Jerusalem was comprised of two sections: the Holy Place, where only priests entered four times daily for worship, and the Holy of Holies, where the high priest entered once each year during the Day of Atonement. This sacred inner area was concealed by a veil, which, prior to the Temple's destruction, held the ark of the covenant, the manna, and Aaron's rod. The Holy of Holies represented heaven, the dwelling place of God, completely hidden from humanity.

The death of Christ was marked by remarkable events. At that moment, the priest who was in the sanctuary preparing the evening sacrifice was struck with terror as he witnessed the temple veil being ripped from top to bottom. This veil represented the body of Christ, symbolizing the temple of the Divine Presence, and its destruction indicated that a new and liberated pathway to the holy place was being established, which Christ ‘opened to us through the veil, that is, His flesh’ (Hebrews 10:19).

The sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ was marked by numerous miraculous events: the temple’s veil was torn in two from the top to the bottom, the ground trembled, rocks were broken apart, graves were opened, and many of the faithful who had passed away were resurrected. They emerged from their tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to numerous people (Matthew 27:51-53). The tearing of the temple's veil, which separated the Holy of Holies from the main sanctuary, symbolized the obliteration of original sin through Christ’s death, which had created a division between God and humanity. The saints who rose at the moment of Jesus Christ's resurrection served as living testimonies to His triumph over sin and death.