Father Sergius

Father Sergius is a powerful novella by Leo Tolstoy about pride, faith, temptation, and the search for spiritual truth. The story follows Prince Stepan Kasatsky, a proud and ambitious aristocrat who abandons society after a personal disappointment and becomes a monk. Although he gains a reputation for holiness, he continues to struggle with vanity, desire, and the need for admiration. Through his inner conflicts and eventual fall from spiritual pride, Tolstoy explores the difference between outward religious devotion and genuine humility. Thoughtful and psychologically rich, the work offers a searching examination of conscience, self-deception, and moral awakening.