# The Priest — The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories character guide

> The Priest in The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0039-what-men-live-by

## Who they are

A village priest appearing in various stories and parables.

## In the story

### [What Men Live By](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/what-men-live-by)

Mentioned as the one who took in the orphaned twin girls, an act of charitable love that helps teach Michael the final lesson.

### [The Repentant Sinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-repentant-sinner)

Represented allegorically by the Apostle Peter, who guards the gate and first denies the sinner entry based on his deeds.

### [The Wisdom of Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/the-wisdom-of-children)

Mentioned by the bailiff as the authority who will judge the peasant girl Grushka for her insolence.

### [Traveller and Peasant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/chapters/traveller-and-peasant)

Criticized by the Peasant for not teaching God's Law correctly and for reading declarations of war in church.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters/the_priest
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leo_tolstoy_short_fiction_se/characters