Three hermits by Tolstoy summary

🧭 Beginning – The Bishop’s Journey

A bishop (a high church priest) is travelling by ship to visit a remote island. During the journey, he hears about three hermits (holy men) who live alone on a small island.

Sailors say these hermits are simple and holy but they do not know proper religious teachings.

The bishop becomes curious. He believes it is his duty to teach them the correct way to pray according to church rules. So he asks the sailors to take him to the island.

🧓 Meeting the Three Hermits

The bishop meets the hermits. They are very simple, innocent, and humble men. They live a peaceful life and survive with very little material comfort.

When the bishop asks how they pray, they say they only know a very simple prayer:

“You are three, we are three, have mercy on us.”

They do not understand complex religious rituals or church doctrine.

✝️ Bishop Teaches Formal Prayer

The bishop thinks their prayer is incorrect. He spends the whole day teaching them the proper Christian prayer (The Lord’s Prayer). He carefully explains each line until they memorize it.

The hermits try sincerely to learn because they respect him. The bishop feels proud and satisfied that he has corrected them and fulfilled his religious duty.

🌙 The Miracle and Realization

After teaching them, the bishop returns to the ship and sails away at night. Suddenly, the sailors and bishop see something shocking:

👉 The three hermits are running across the sea water toward the ship.

They reach the bishop and humbly tell him they have forgotten the prayer he taught them. They ask him to teach it again.

The bishop realizes something deeply spiritual. He understands that people who can walk on water because of their faith do not need formal religious instruction.

He bows to them and tells them: “Your prayer is enough. Pray in your own way.”

The hermits return peacefully to their island.

Main Themes and Meaning.

1. Tolstoy shows that true faith comes from sincerity and love, not from complicated religious rules or memorized prayers.

2. The hermits live simple lives without ego or pride. Tolstoy suggests that simplicity often brings people closer to truth and God.

3. Tolstoy gently criticizes institutional religion. He suggests that religious leaders sometimes focus too much on rules rather than spiritual essence.

4. The bishop starts as a teacher but ends as a learner. The story shows wisdom can come from unexpected people.