Three Hermits. A Short Story by Leo Tolstoy

Three Hermits: A Short Story by Leo Tolstoy

Introduction to the Story

• The story begins with a biblical quote from the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing the importance of sincere prayer over vain repetitions.

Setting and Characters

• A bishop is traveling from Archangel to Solovetsky Monastery, accompanied by pilgrims on a smooth voyage. The atmosphere is calm, with pilgrims engaging in conversation and meals.

• The bishop observes a fisherman speaking to a group of men about something significant at sea, prompting his curiosity.

Discovery of the Hermits

• Upon approaching the group, the bishop learns they are discussing hermits who live on an island for their spiritual salvation. He expresses interest in hearing more about them.

• The fisherman describes the island's location but notes that it is difficult for the bishop to see due to his untrained eyes. He recounts his own experience meeting three hermits after being stranded there.

Description of the Hermits

• The fisherman provides detailed descriptions:

• One hermit is very old with a bent back and a bright smile despite his age.

• Another is taller, strong, and wears tattered clothing; he also has a cheerful demeanor.

• The third hermit has long white hair and appears stern but shows kindness through gestures rather than words.

Interaction with the Hermits

• When asked if they spoke much, the fisherman explains that they communicate minimally through glances and gestures; one hermit frowns when questioned about their time on the island while another smiles kindly.

• As their ship approaches closer to the island, passengers begin spotting its features including rocks and huts where these hermits reside. The captain confirms seeing three men standing together on shore as well as their reluctance to engage verbally with outsiders.

The Bishop's Encounter with the Hermits

Arrival at the Island

• The bishop is instructed to take a boat ashore while the ship anchors. The crew quickly prepares for landing.

• Upon nearing the island, three old men are spotted: one tall in a mat, another short in a tattered coat, and an ancient man bent with age.

• The bishop greets the hermits with a blessing, and they bow deeply in response.

Teaching the Hermits

• The bishop expresses his desire to learn about their spiritual practices and how they serve God on the island.

• One hermit explains that they do not know how to serve God but only support themselves; this prompts further inquiry from the bishop.

• The bishop offers to teach them proper prayer as commanded by God, emphasizing his role as a servant of Christ.

Instruction on Prayer

• He begins teaching them the Lord's Prayer, starting with "Our Father," which each hermit attempts to repeat after him.

• Despite difficulties due to age (e.g., mumbled words), the bishop patiently corrects them until they can recite it correctly.

• After extensive repetition throughout the day, all three hermits eventually learn to say the entire prayer independently.

Departure and Reflection

• As night falls, the bishop bids farewell to the hermits who bow before him; he encourages them to pray as taught.

• While returning to his ship, he hears their voices repeating the Lord's Prayer loudly from shore.

A Mysterious Sight

• Once aboard, he observes as their figures fade into moonlight while reflecting on their joy in learning prayer.

• Suddenly noticing something white shimmering on water’s surface, he wonders if it's following their ship.

Revelation of Faith

• To his astonishment, it becomes clear that it is indeed the three hermits running across water towards him in gleaming white attire.

Encounter with the Hermits

The Steersman's Alarm

• The steersman expresses panic, exclaiming that the Hermits are approaching them on the water as if it were dry land. This creates a sense of urgency among the passengers who rush to the stern to witness this unusual sight.

The Hermits' Plea

• Upon reaching the ship, all three Hermits collectively voice their concern about forgetting their teachings. They explain that while they were actively repeating these teachings, they remembered them well, but have since lost track due to a lack of practice.

Request for Guidance

• The Hermits lament that they can no longer recall any part of their prayers and plead for assistance in learning again. In response, the bishop humbly suggests that they should pray for themselves instead of relying on him to teach them.

Bishop's Humility

• Demonstrating humility and respect, the bishop bows before the old men, acknowledging their spiritual authority and expressing solidarity with their plight as he encourages them to engage in prayer.

Departure Across the Sea

• After this exchange, the Hermits turn back and glide across the sea, leaving behind a poignant moment of reflection on faith and community. Their departure signifies both a physical journey and an emotional return to spiritual practices.