Father Sergius
by Leo Tolstoy
- First published
- 1911
- Reading level
- Easy
- Price
- Free
About the book
"Father Sergius" by graf Leo Tolstoy is a short story written between 1890 and 1898. After discovering his fiancée's affair with the Tsar, proud Prince Stepan Kasatsky abandons his promising future to become a monk. Despite years of spiritual devotion and growing fame as a holy hermit and healer, he struggles with inner weakness, pride, and desire. His journey takes him from self-mutilation to resist temptation, through devastating failure, and finally toward an unexpected path of humble service and redemption.
- Adultery
- Monks
- Russia
- Betrothal
- Russian fiction
- Russia. Armiia
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #985. Father Sergius on Wikipedia.
