Equal shares for priests; praise offering on leavened bread; cup of salvation

Cyril: …upon a grate, or upon a pan, of the priest offering it, of him will be. And every sacrifice worked-up in oil, and not worked-up, for all the sons of Aaron will be; for each the equal.’ This law also is saved in churches, and awards equality to the sacred-workers, distributing to each unalterably the prizes of the bloodless sacrifice. And knowing this Paul writes: ‘Thus also the Lord ordered, those sitting-near the altar, to live from the altar.’ (Leviticus 7:9–10) And those offering the sacrifices are partners of the altar, just as again he somewhere says.

Palladius: Thus it holds.

Cyril: And he again rhythms the sacrifice of praise, and pledges how it would become, saying: ‘This is the law of a sacrifice of salvation, which they will bring to Lord: If concerning praise he should offer it, he will also bring upon the sacrifice of the praise, six breads of fine flour worked-up with oil, and unleavened flatbreads smeared in oil, and fine flour mixed in oil. Upon leavened breads he will bring his gifts upon a sacrifice of praise of salvation; and he will bring near one from all his gifts, a taking-away to Lord. For the priest pouring the blood of the salvation, for him it will be; and the meats of a sacrifice of praise of salvation, for him will be. And in which day he gifts, it will be eaten; they will not leave from it unto morning.’ (1 Corinthians 9:13) He has ordered the sacrifice of the praise to be made upon leavened breads; and yet clearly and manifestly in others having said that ‘Every leaven and every honey you will not bring to Lord your God. A gift of firstfruit you will bring them to Lord; but upon the altar it will not be set up unto a smell of fragrance to Lord.’ (1 Corinthians 10:18) So then, O Palladius, do you not say the curious in these is beneficial?

Palladius: And very much.

Cyril: So then what will be the manner of the economy, come let us say, investigating as possible, and sending a path the hidden. So then most lawfully also all-divine David striking up the spiritual lyre, ‘A cup,’ he says, ‘of salvation I will take, and the name of Lord I will call upon’ (Leviticus 7:11–15); clearly calling the sacrifice of the praise a cup of salvation. And we also bring near the praise according to multitude in churches, unto oneness of spirit, and as having been brought together into one body and one soul through the faith; for it has been written that ‘And of the multitude of those having believed the heart and the soul was one.’ (Leviticus 2:11–12) And we make the glorifyings also often each quieting a house, both in day and in night; and the matter is in practice for the fair. Or is what I say not true?

Palladius: For how not?

Cyril: But whether then in churches according to multitude the victim should be brought near by us, or whether then it should be done in other places, and somehow each one, or also somehow according to two, and three, and still more, undistinguished is the standing of those accustomed to hymn-speak, and having run together unto this; for together with those already cleansed through the holy baptism, he brings up-with the victim (Psalm 116:13) (Acts 4:32);