The priesthood exercises itself on earth but possesses an array of heavenly orders. This is very fitting. It is not a man, not angel, not an archangel, not any other creature, but the Advocate (Paraclete) himself who has commanded this arrangement. He impelled those who remain in the flesh to make the ministry of angels visible. Therefore, it is necessary for the priest to be pure as he stands in the heavens among those powers. For the things before grace are fearful and dreadful such as the bells, the pomegranates, the stones on the breastplate, the ephod, the miter, the lyre, the sash, the golden crown, the holy of holies, the calm of things within. But if anyone scrutinizes the things of grace, he will find those insignificant things to be fearful and dreadful. He will find it true what was said concerning the law; “that which has glory is not glorious in comparison to the surpassing glory.” (2 Cor 3:10).
Ἡ γὰρ ἱερωσύνη τελεῖται μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τάξιν δὲ ἐπουρανίων ἔχει πραγμάτων. Καὶ μάλα γε εἰκότως· οὐ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος, οὐκ ἄγγελος, οὐκ ἀρχάγγελος, οὐκ ἄλλη τις κτιστὴ δύναμις, ἀλλ’ αὐτὸς ὁ Παράκλητος ταύτην διετάξατο τὴν ἀκολουθίαν καὶ ἔτι μένοντας ἐν σαρκὶ τὴν τῶν ἀγγέλων ἔπεισε φαντάζεσθαι διακονίαν. Διὸ χρὴ τὸν ἱερωμένον ὥσπερ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἑστῶτα τοῖς οὐρανοῖς μεταξὺ τῶν δυνάμεων ἐκείνων οὕτως εἶναι καθαρόν. Φοβερὰ μὲν γὰρ καὶ φρικωδέστατα καὶ τὰ πρὸ τῆς χάριτος, οἷον οἱ κώδωνες,οἱ ῥοΐσκοι, οἱ λίθοι οἱ τοῦ στήθους, οἱ τῆς ἐπωμίδος, ἡ μίτρα, ἡ κίδαρις, ὁ ποδήρης, τὸ πέταλον τὸ χρυσοῦν, τὰ Ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων, ἡ πολλὴ τῶν ἔνδον ἠρεμία· ἀλλ’ εἴ τις τὰ τῆς χάριτος ἐξετάσειε, μικρὰ ὄντα εὑρήσει τὰ φοβερὰ καὶ φρικωδέστατα ἐκεῖνα, καὶ τὸ περὶ τοῦ νόμου λεχθὲν κἀνταῦθα ἀληθὲς ὂν ὅτι «Οὐ δεδόξασται τὸ δεδοξασμένον ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει ἕνεκεν τῆς ὑπερβαλλούσης δόξης.».