# Father Païssy — The Brothers Karamazov character guide

> Father Païssy in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Father Païssy, reverend Father

**First appearance:** 0046-part-ii-i-father-zossima-and-his-visitors

## Who they are

A stern and learned monk at the monastery.

## In the story

### [V: So Be It! So Be It!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-v-so-be-it-so-be-it)

The silent and learned monk who fervently agrees with Ivan's position and elaborates on the Russian conception of the State becoming the Church.

### [Another Reputation Ruined](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-xi-another-reputation-ruined)

Speaks to Alyosha about Zossima's blessing and his duty.

### [I: Father Ferapont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-i-father-ferapont)

Father Païssy hears Zossima's confession, gives Alyosha a parting exhortation about the enduring Christian ideal, and later receives the news of the 'miracle' with cautious solemnity.

### [Father Zossima and His Visitors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-i-father-zossima-and-his-visitors)

One of the four monks present; he had assured the others that Zossima would rise and converse. He reads the Gospel during the conversation.

### [I: The Breath of Corruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-i-the-breath-of-corruption)

Performs the burial ritual, reads the Gospel over the coffin, and tries to calm the excited crowd while secretly sharing their hopes.

### [Cana of Galilee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-cana-of-galilee)

Reads the Gospel over Zossima's coffin, observes Alyosha's strange behavior but continues reading.

## Links

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