P. Pravda.

K. And he also commands to prepare a certain sacred and wonderful garment, saying: "And make the upper robe for the ephod all blue [of color]; there should be a hole for the head in it; the hole around it should have a woven plating, like the hole in the armor, so that it does not fight; And thou shalt make apples of blue, blue, purple, and scarlet in the hem thereof, and round about the hem thereof. the golden vertebrae are in a circle between them: a golden vertebra and an apple, a golden vertebra and an apple, along the hem of the upper robe in a circle; she shall be upon Aaron in service, that a sound may be heard from him, when he shall enter into the sanctuary before the Lord, and when he shall go out, that he may not die" (Exodus 28:31-35). Thus, the inner robe and undergarment is clearly called a long chiton, very convenient for clothing and reaching from the neck to the extremities of the legs; blue, because it serves as an image of heavenly incorruption, that is, Christ. The divine David also foretold this, speaking as if on behalf of God about the priests in the churches: "I will clothe his priests for salvation" (Psalm 131:16); "Put on our Lord Jesus Christ," writes the all-wise Paul in his Epistle (Romans 13:14). And this, I think, is our heavenly dwelling, with which we desire to put on: the garment of gladness, the robe of salvation, according to the word of the prophet (Isaiah 61:10). The blue colour is an image of the sky, as has been clearly stated. This word is also true in relation to us, for we are clothed with incorruptibility from above. If we understand Christ Himself, as having in the image of Aaron an inner robe, nevertheless this word is true; for the Only-begotten, being God by nature, makes His body incorruptible, and, having clothed it with life above, has placed it above all predominance of death. And that in Christ incorruption and life abide by nature and together by communion, you will understand from the following. He said, being God by nature: "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25); but being quickened according to human nature, He says: "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave the Son to have life in Himself" (5:26). Thus, if we understand Christ Himself, of Whom it is said that He is clothed with incorruption from above, then in this case our speech would not deviate from the proper meaning. The lower parts were adjoined by apples and bells alternately, the apples woven and the bells golden, so that they were actually bells, and also so that when Aaron entered the Holy of Holies, they would make the entrance very noticeable. And this serves as an image of the salvific and all-wise dispensation, that is, the Divine and Gospel preaching, which, one might say, proclaims every city from the time when for our sake "once entered into the sanctuary, and obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12); "By one offering He made perfect forever those who are sanctified" (10:14). At the same time, the bells made of gold serve as a clear indication of the salvific sermon, and the apples of the cities.

P. In what way?

K. As a city is surrounded by a single wall, and within itself contains innumerable dwellings; In the same way, I think, the substance of the pomegranate apple is surrounded by a single shell, and inside the grains are separated from each other as if by walls, thin tissues, and are almost collected in dwellings. Isn't that so?

P. I agree.

K. There was a bell at every apple: in every city there is a teacher who, by loud and euphonious proclamation of Divine dogmas, makes manifest to all the entry of our Saviour into the Holy of Holies. Even the fear of death threatened those appointed to officiate in the holy tabernacle, even to Aaron, if the noise of the bells had not been heard loudly around them: silence is a dangerous thing for teachers; and this is what Paul clearly said: "Woe is me, if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16).

P. It seems so; for you point out very rightly.

K. In addition, "And make," it is said, "a polished tablet of pure gold, and carve on it, as one carves on a seal, 'Holiness of the Lord,' and fasten it with a blue cord to the kidar, so that it is on the front side of the kidar; and it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear upon him the defects of the offerings which are consecrated from the children of Israel, and of all the gifts which they offer. and it shall be continually upon his forehead, for the Lord's good pleasure towards them" (Exodus 28:36-38). So, the headband is made of blue cloth, and the tablet is golden; the inscription carved on it is the mystery of Christ and a clear foreshadowing of His sending into this world. For "holiness," it is said, is to the Lord; but did not Immanuel clearly say of Himself that He was sanctified by God and the Father?

P. Yes, because I remember His words to the Jews: "If He called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, do you say, To Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, do you say, 'You blaspheme, because I said, 'I am the Son of God?'" (John 10:35-36).

K. When the Son says of Himself that He is sanctified by God and the Father, He indicates that He is as it were pre-chosen and sent. "The holiness of the Lord," it is said, that is, the appointment and message into this world; but only for the kingdom and glory. For thus God makes Aaron, placing a golden tablet on his forehead. And Christ is the Lord of all and King by nature and at the same time by communion; for, being God by nature, He "made Himself small," having descended to "the form of a servant" (Phil. 2:7). And he accepts the kingdom as befits the human image, although from the beginning he was a neighbor of God and the Father in heaven, co-ruler over all things and co-ruler. Consider, then, how his (Aaron's) headband was made of blue cloth, having a shining sign of the kingdom, that is, a golden tablet. The blue color signifies the sky; and remember the words of Christ: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36); for Christ is not an earthly king, but a heavenly one, having all creation under His feet. Adding the words: "And Aaron shall take away the sins of the saints, since they shall sanctify them from all the gifts of their saints," the Scriptures clearly indicate that all "bringing in" (Ephesians 2:18) and fulfillment are in Christ, and that all justification is in Him and through Him, and the laying aside of former sins; for He Himself lifts up our sins, and through Him we are made pleasant, offering spiritual gifts to God and the Father.

P. Well said.

K. Indicating very clearly that the kingdom of our Savior is inalienable and permanent, and extends to endless ages, the Scriptures speak of the board on the headband: "And let it be on the forehead of Aaron always." Where, then, should the impudent and insane speech of impious heretics find refuge, talking idly that the power of Christ will one day cease and that Immanuel will deliver up the Kingdom to God and the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24), having departed from the throne of the Godhead? And it is precisely such terrible and at the same time empty teachings that people boast of, to whom it may be justly said: "Ye err not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt. 22:29). And so, when God and the Father clearly and evidently adorns Aaron with unceasing glory and honor and signs of royal dignity, they dethrone and almost steal by force his sacred head ornament.

P. Pravda.

K. "And make," it is said, "a tunic of fine linen and a kidar" (Exodus 28:39). Aaron's warrior appearance was given by a belt and a helmet; for this was the appearance of the Kidar. And for us Christ "wrestled with a secret hand," according to the Scriptures (Exodus 17:16), and "He made His bow with tension and ready, and made His arrows unto those who were burned" (Psalm 7:13 and 14), and He cast down the principalities, triumphed over the powers, shook the dominions, and set free the captives on earth. And that His battle was not visible or sensual, and not with blood and flesh, seems to be covertly indicated by the fact that the military armor – the kidar (klobuk) and the belt – was made of the same very fine linen. Thus, through the sacred adornment, God reveals Aaron to be glorious and wondrous. He adds to this another commandment, saying: "Make tunics for the sons of Aaron, make them girdles, and make them headbands for glory and splendor, and clothe Aaron thy brother and his sons with him in them, and anoint them, and fill their hands, and consecrate them, and they shall be priests unto Me. And thou shalt make them a linen undergarment to cover their nakedness from the loins to the legs, and they shall be upon Aaron and his sons when they enter into the tabernacle of meeting, or come to the altar to serve in the sanctuary, lest they sin and die. [This] is an everlasting statute for him and for his descendants after it" (Exodus 28:40-43). You see that it is fitting for the descendants of Aaron to appear as if in military form; for the whole holy race is militant, and must not fight and contend with flesh and blood, but put up barriers to unclean sin, quite openly and verbally advocating for true teachings, we captivate every thought in obedience to Christ," as it is written (2 Corinthians 10:5). Furthermore, they had linen undergarments (nadragi), which very well covered the ugliness and shame of the surrounding parts: for everything among the saints is honest and there is nothing shameful in them; and linen, placed on the parts of the body, signifies, as it were, that it is most appropriate for the saints to cool the pleasure of the flesh, because linen is refreshing; and fervor in the most vile desires is alien to every saint. And for another reason, those who have received the lot of the priesthood have their vestments and undergarments made of linen: they must shun dead works; and the image of deadness is that which is taken as it were from the dead, that is, from the sheep. Thus, the laying aside of dead works, again as if in a type, is indicated by the vestment in linen, and not in woollen garments: and this is a holy law that is everlasting. And that in any case and without fail death will follow for neglecting the proper and most appropriate adornment for them (priests), He clearly indicated in the words that they must perform the sacraments while wearing these garments: "Let them not bring sin upon themselves," it is said, "lest they die."