The Holy Synod publishes its 20–22 February 1901 definition excluding Tolstoy from the Orthodox Church
On 24 February 1901 Church Gazette printed the Holy Synod’s definition of 20–22 February declaring that the Orthodox Church no longer counted Count Tolstoy as a member unless he repented. In the causal graph this event weakens Protection of Minority Rights, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — a worsening welfare path.
Read the full account
On 24 February 1901 Church Gazette printed the Holy Synod’s definition of 20–22 February declaring that the Orthodox Church no longer counted Count Tolstoy as a member unless he repented. It is received in public English as excommunication.
Context
He did not draft the Synod’s text. His 1880s–90s tracts are the prior public cause, stored separately. Britannica and Tolstoy.ru independently print the 1901 act.
Leo Tolstoy’s documented role is bounded by other offices and collaborators named in the sources below.
Conventional years are 1828–1910. Surviving public files are later museum pages, collected-works sites, library catalogues, and encyclopedias. Tolstoy did not typeset those later pages.
Why it matters
Rights-harm path via church-state exclusion. High confidence on the publication date.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Leo Tolstoy
PersonDirect responsibility
responsibility level 0.4 · verified
The Synod issued the definition. His prior tracts supplied the public cause. Complex shared church-state act; he did not sign the edict.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactThe Holy Synod publishes its 20–22 February 1901 definition excluding Tolstoy from the Orthodox Church
- weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
- strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 24 February 1901 · verified
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)
Observed
29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)
Worse than normalTwo readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).
20212023 Above normal = better
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)
Observed
43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.
Normal is zero · any amount = worse
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.Tolstoy.ru — collected works and estate portalState Tolstoy Museum / Tolstoy.ru · High credibility · verified
- 2.Britannica — Leo TolstoyEncyclopaedia Britannica · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish
Britannica and Tolstoy.ru independently describe the February 1901 Synod definition.
Established: the Synod published the 1901 definition. Not established: that every later Orthodox penalty copies this file.
Leo Tolstoy did not file a later UNESCO form, a later Loeb colophon, or a later museum label as a personal act. An edict is not a novel. Keep 1877 off this February date. An edict is not a novel. Keep 1877 off this February date.
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorLeo Tolstoy
- contributed toFactThe Holy Synod publishes its 20–22 February 1901 definition excluding Tolstoy from the Orthodox Church
- weakensDriverProtection of Minority Rights
- strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). The Holy Synod publishes its 20–22 February 1901 definition excluding Tolstoy from the Orthodox Church. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/lt-synod-1901
https://factrail.ai/facts/lt-synod-1901
Accessed 16 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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