Which Russian Orthodox body excommunicated Leo Tolstoy in 1901?

The Holy Synod excommunicated Leo Tolstoy in 1901.

The Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod issued its formal notification on 24 February 1901, using the Julian calendar then in force in Russia. The statement said that Tolstoy had separated himself from the Orthodox Church through his religious teachings and criticism of established doctrine.

Tolstoy’s later religious philosophy emphasized the teachings of Jesus, especially nonresistance to evil, moral self-improvement, and the rejection of institutional authority. He criticized church rituals and doctrines that he believed were inconsistent with the ethical message of the Gospels. His views attracted followers but also caused conflict with government and church authorities.

The declaration did not silence him. Tolstoy continued writing religious essays, fiction, and letters, and his ideas influenced pacifists and reformers abroad. Strictly speaking, the Holy Synod issued the excommunication notice; the Russian Orthodox Church was the wider institution involved. Tolstoy’s personal response was that he did not formally seek reconciliation because he rejected the church’s theological premises.