The Day of Atonement
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Lev. 16:2–34; 23:26–32) — the 10th day of the seventh month (by our reckoning, September 10), among the Hebrews associated with fasting and contrition for sin. On this day the high priest offered a sacrifice for himself, having set before the Tabernacle two goats, and by lot slaughtered one of them and offered it as a sin offering for the whole people; he entered several times into the Holy of Holies, offered incense, and sprinkled blood over the mercy seat, and then poured out the blood on the horns of the altar and sprinkled it there as well.
Over the other goat he confessed the sins of the whole people and commanded that it be driven out into the wilderness. The whole sacred rite ended with a burnt offering. This rite undoubtedly served as a foreshadowing of the redemptive, purifying, and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 11:11–14 [as given]).