The author of "Lefty", "The Enchanted Wanderer" and "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" was distinguished by great religiosity from childhood, but his attitude towards the Orthodox Church was critical at best - Leskov believed that the church only distracted parishioners from the truth of Christ. It is not surprising that the collection “Christian Legends” is dedicated to the lives of the early righteous people who lived in Egypt and the countries of the Middle East. The heroes of the collection are elders and hermits, beautiful maidens and young men in love, they love and suffer, seek the truth and witness real miracles, but above all, they all fervently believe in God and find him in their souls.