"For heaven was then utterly inaccessible to mortal man, and no flesh as yet had ever trodden that pure and all-holy realm of the angels; but Christ was the first Who consecrated for us the means of access to Himself, and granted to flesh a way of entrance into heaven; presenting Himself as an offering to God the Father, as it were the first-fruits of them that are asleep and are lying in the tomb, and the first of mankind that ever appeared in heaven." St Cyril the great
