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.
After the funeral of Emperor Alexander III, Tolstoy was summoned to the reception and showed Procurator of the Holy Synod, Vladimir Karlovich Sabler, the latest issue of the Catholic journal "Revue Bénédictine", which was published by his private letters to Father Vanutelli.
Tolstoy went to Rome, where he met with many of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, including Pope Leo XIII, and engaged in a service of the liturgy.
After deciding that Nicholas resigned to his emigration, Izvolsky told the Pope that Russia will not pursue disqualifying him by the Synod of dignity of a priest.
The patience of the Synod died out when Tolstoy attached to the Catholic Church by the Byzantine rite of Vladimir Solovyov in Lent of 1896, and Cardinal Rampolla sent him to the Augustinian monastery in Paris.