Father Sergius

Father Sergius is a novella written by Leo Tolstoy and published posthumously in 1911.

The story follows a proud young aristocrat who abandons his worldly life after discovering that his fiancée had previously been the mistress of the emperor. Seeking spiritual purity, he enters a monastery and eventually becomes a respected hermit known for his religious devotion.

Despite his reputation for holiness, he continues to struggle with pride, temptation, and his desire for admiration. His repeated attempts to overcome these weaknesses lead him through moments of extreme self-denial, moral failure, and a growing realization that his spiritual life has been shaped as much by vanity as by genuine faith.

Through his journey, Tolstoy explores the conflict between outward holiness and true humility, suggesting that genuine goodness is found not in fame or religious prestige, but in simple acts of service and compassion.

"In Petersburg in the eighteen-forties a surprising event occurred. An officer of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted would become aide-de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress`s, gave his small estate to his sister, and retired to a monastery to become a monk."

This English translation was made by Louise and Aylmer Maude, two of Tolstoy's best-known translators.