the Day of Atonement gnostic sacrament of redemption

 In a Christian context, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) corresponds to a ritual of redemption as it symbolizes the purification and reconciliation of humanity with God. The ritualistic aspect of the Day of Atonement involves the high priest entering the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people, seeking forgiveness and restoration of divine favor. This sacrificial act is a symbolic purification, preparing the people for a renewed relationship with God, akin to the concept of redemption.

For Gnostic Christians, the ritual of redemption represents a similar purification and return to a divine state. In the *Gospel of Philip*, the sacrament of redemption is associated with a threefold structure mirroring the sacrificial system of Jerusalem: baptism (the holy place), redemption (the holy of the holy), and the bridal chamber (the holy of holies). Just as the Day of Atonement in the Hebrew tradition centers around the high priest's journey into the Holy of Holies to make atonement, Gnostic Christians view redemption as an ascent to a higher spiritual realm, culminating in the bridal chamber, a place of intimate union with the divine.

The concept of the bridal chamber in Gnosticism parallels the sacred space where true atonement and reconciliation occur. In the *Gospel of Philip*, the bridal chamber is depicted as a realm above, beyond the material world, where the union with the divine takes place. The tearing of the curtain in the temple, as mentioned in the text, signifies a removal of the barrier between the earthly and the divine, enabling believers to ascend and partake in the divine mysteries. This mirrors the function of the Day of Atonement, where the separation between humanity and God is bridged through sacrifice and ritual purification.

The *Gospel of Philip* presents the idea that redemption, through baptism, resurrection, and ultimately the bridal chamber, is the means by which individuals achieve their return to the divine Pleroma. In this sense, the sacrament of redemption is viewed as a means of restoring what was lost, much like the Day of Atonement's role in restoring Israel’s relationship with God. Both rituals signify a process of spiritual purification, reconciliation, and a return to the divine, transcending the limitations of the material world and achieving union with the divine essence.

Thus, in both the Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur and the Gnostic Christian concept of redemption, there is a focus on reconciliation with the divine, purification of the individual, and the establishment of a renewed spiritual state. In Gnosticism, this is expressed through a symbolic ascent and union in the bridal chamber, representing a return to the fullness of the divine, much like the Day of Atonement in the Hebrew tradition restores the people to God's favor. The tearing of the curtain, which once separated the Holy of Holies, encapsulates this breaking of barriers, symbolizing the open access to the divine that both rituals seek to achieve.