Nicholas Tolstoy

Nicholas Tolstoy (20 February 1867 – 4 February 1938) was the first Russian Orthodox priest to solicit a union with Catholic Church in 1893. Tolstoy is best known for his inauguration of a small Russian Catholic community, and was responsible for its development. Early life and education Father Tolstoy was born into an aristocratic family in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He attended the Page Corps military academy, and served in the Sofia Regiment after graduating. Soon after, he entered the Moscow Theological Academy and studied the writings of the Fathers of the Church in Russian and "Summa Theologica" by Saint Thomas Aquinas in Latin. In his time at the Academy, Tolstoy met philosopher Vladimir Solovyov and the crypto-catholic Elizabeth Volkonskaya, and was impressed by the penetration of Protestant views in the teaching of Orthodox theology. In 1890, Tolstoy ordained an Orthodox priesthood, and in the following year took a trip to the Middle East to become familiar with the traditions and customs of the Middle Eastern Christians. After the return of the French abbot Vivian of Saint Louis Church in Moscow, abbot Vivian introduced Tolstoy to Italian cardinal Vincenzo Vannutelli, who after talking with Tolstoy told him that with his views, he can consider himself a Catholic while staying in the home of the Russian Orthodox Church. Tolstoy traveled around the world, taking with him marching corporal and remembering in the cities of following local bishops. In Vienna, Tolstoy first visited the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and met with Metropolitan Sylvester Sembratovich. After returning to Moscow, Tolstoy wrote his thesis on the Eucharist under the leadership of Alexey Lebedev. In 1893 he graduated with honors from the Theological Academy, and formally joined the Catholic Church in November 1894.