Showing results for "Father Sergius" in Literature & Fiction

Father Sergius is a short story by Leo Tolstoy and was published in 1911. It tells the story of a young prince - known as Stepan Kasatsky - who becomes a priest. In the court, he falls in love with Countess Mary Korotkova and becomes engaged to her. But soon he discovers his fiancée was once a mistress to Tsar Nicholas I. This incident devastates him and he decides to leave the court and becomes a monk. As he is an ambitious high achiever and excels in everything he sets his mind to, he is ordained to the priesthood after three years and takes the name Father Sergius.

Prince Stepan Kasatsky experiences a disappointment with his fiancé and decides to become a monk! There is a story line, but beneath it, Father Sergius struggles to find peace and, if not happiness, then at least contentment. But he is always disillusioned and ultimately unsatisfied. Only in the end does he find his way by letting go of what he struggled to attain all his life, i.e. to be better than everyone else in whatever he did, and settle for the mundane. (Summary by JCarson)

After discovering that his fiancée has had an affair, Prince Stepan Kasatsky decides to become a monk. His reputation for holiness grows, and he attracts pilgrims from far and wide. Yet he is still tortured by boredom, pride, and lust.