July

4 weekly readings

Pascal

Paskal'

Leo Tolstoy

This is Tolstoy's extended biographical and philosophical meditation on Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), the French mathematician, physicist, and religious thinker. Tolstoy sees in Pascal a kindred spirit—s

The Order of the World

Ustroystvo mira

Lamennais (Part I); Compiled by N.N. Gusev under Tolstoy's editorship (Parts II and III)

This is a compound weekly reading consisting of three thematically linked sections on Christian opposition to war and violence. Part I by the French priest Félicité de Lamennais presents the world as

The Unbeliever

Neveruyushchiy

Victor Hugo (translated by Leo Tolstoy)

This remarkable narrative, translated by Tolstoy from Victor Hugo, recounts a philosophical conversation between Hugo and a former priest named Anatole Leray who had become a convinced materialist and

Repentance

Pokayanie

Buka (Part I); Traditional parable (Part II)

This compound weekly reading explores the theme of repentance. Part I presents a profound essay on non-resistance to evil and the transformative power of repentance—arguing that through patient love r