Easter Eve | Easter Eve

At a glance:

Author: Anton Chekhov
First Published: 1886
Type of Plot: Social realism
Time of Work: The 1880's
Setting: Russia
Principal Characters: The unnamed narrator, Ieronim, Nikolay
Genres: Social realism, Short fiction
Subjects: Nineteenth century, Religion, Death or dying, Rivers or waterways, Catholics or Catholic Church, Bereavement or grief, Rites or ceremonies, Monasteries, monks, or monasticism, Russia or Russian people, Boats or boating, Church or churches, Easter
Locales: Russia

The Story

On the night before Easter, the narrator waits on the riverbank for a ferry to take him to the monastery on the other side of the river to see the Easter ceremonies. It is dark; only the stars are shining as if they have come out for the festival procession, with each of them renewed and joyful, and each softly twinkling and beaming. The river is flooded and looks like a lake. It is as though nature itself celebrates Easter.

Soon the narrator finds out that he is not alone. Not far from him, a peasant is waiting for the illumination. He does not have the five...

Easter Eve | Easter Eve

At a glance:

The Story

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