Grigory Rasputin is a rather famous peasant who lived in a small village in the Tobolsk province. Many know him because he was a friend of the family of Emperor Nicholas II.
Even at present, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this person. His life was full of the most inexplicable events and facts. Many historians believe that Gregory is a simple charlatan and a scammer, while others are sure that he was a real healer.
We present you 10 interesting facts about Gregory Rasputin: a biography of an old man close to the royal family, and the mystification of his personality.
10. Came from a peasant family
The Rasputin family was first listed in the census book for 1662. It is said that Izosim lived with his wife and sons. A little later, one of the sons named Nason received an unusual nickname "Rosputa". It was from him that such a name was assigned to everyone else.
In the census book already in 1858, it was indicated that about 30 peasants who bore the same surname live in Pokrovsky village.
Gregory was born in the same village in 1869. His father was a simple coachman and peasant. That is why it is safe to say that Rasputin was born into a peasant family.
The boy was born on the day of St. Gregory of Nyssa, therefore he was named that way. He was baptized the day after his birth (January 10, and was born on 9).
9. In his youth he turned to religion
Gregory in his youth began to turn to religion. And this happened after an unusual incident in his life.
Very often he was ill in his youth. Once went with pilgrims to the Verkhotursky monastery. He soon began to notice that his health was recovering.
It was after this moment that Rasputin became a religious person. Gregory himself very often said that the salvation of man is only in God. Without it, it’s impossible to go anywhere.
8. Youth spent on pilgrimage
Gregory tried to spend his time in various wanderings. Visited famous holy places. For example, I visited the holy Mount Athos in Jerusalem. Until the moment he got married, he stayed in many places of Christianity.
7. Helped Tsarevich Alexei fight hemophilia
Tsarevich Alexei was a long-awaited child in the family. After four girls were born, the emperor and his wife really wanted a boy. It was he who was to become the heir to the throne.
Nicholas II and his family were religious people. They prayed to God for the gift of a son. Very often turned to Seraphim of Sarov. The proposal for his canonization was made precisely by him (Nikolai).
The story also says that his little daughter was healed of a terrible disease after touching the old man’s mantle. Prayers were heard, a boy was born to the imperial family, who was named Alexei.
But, as soon as the child began to grow, the parents realized that there was no hope for him in the future. A few months later, Alexei began to bleed heavily, which could not be stopped. It was then that they heard the terrible word - hemophilia. This is a disease in which absolutely any trauma can lead to rupture of blood vessels. It is worth noting that hemophilia is inherited. The first carrier was the Queen of England herself - Victoria. It was from her that such genes went.
Rasputin helped the family cope with this disease. According to the empress, Gregory went up to the child, baptized him and said that the boy had nothing serious. And then he just turned and left.
But it is surprising that after this the bleeding in the child stopped. Gregory himself did not even touch the boy, he read prayers near him. But sometimes he used various herbs.
Once Rasputin took out a lump of wood ash, boiled it in boiling water, and then smeared it on the face of a child. After this bleeding also stopped going. But it is worth noting that oak bark can prevent such symptoms.
Once, Grigory Rasputin told the imperial family that the boy Alexey would be alive as long as he was alive. To the surprise of many, it happened. The child survived the elder for a year and a half.
6. Accusations and persecution of the elder by the church
The attitude of Orthodoxy towards Rasputin is negative. Many priests called him "servant of satan». They believed that this man was able to provoke the deaths of many people who trusted him.
The Russian Orthodox Church believes that because of Rasputin, strong revolutionary frenzy began in the country, as well as the destruction of temples, the scolding of many shrines.
There were also rumors that Rasputin was a sectarian. There was a lot of evidence. The man was considered very arrogant, had great pride, was imprudent about his soul and its salvation. Often he was noticed while studying the false sciences.
Many claim that Gregory helped people not because he was kind, but because of a sense of self-interest. He always wanted to be the center of attention.
5. Published two books with prophecies
Rasputin published 2 books in which he described his prophecies. He talked about how he foresaw the execution of the royal family, and also knew about the October Revolution, which occurred in 1917.
He was able to foresee some moments from his death. Gregory assured that in the future there will be many global disasters, and also believed that people would be cloned.
4. Dissuaded the emperor from Russia's entry into the war
Not many people know that Rasputin dissuaded Nicholas II from entering the war. He knew what life in Russia was like. Gregory was able to persuade the emperor, which helped push the start of the First World War, but only temporarily.
3. Khionia Guseva committed an attempt on Rasputin
Shortly before the First World War began in the world, Gregory Rasputin was assassinated. Near his house, Khioniya Guseva attacked him. In her hands she held a knife.
Many believe that Gregory simply wanted to eliminate, "so as not to get involved in state affairs". After all, he often advised the emperor what to do best.
The knife held by Chionius had a rather large blade. So, she didn’t just want to hurt Gregory, but really, to kill. But what she had conceived never materialized.
After that, many learned about Guseva’s personality. Since childhood, she had many congenital diseases. As a result of what happened, she was sent to a psychiatric hospital, as they recognized her insane.
2. Different versions of the conspiracy against the old man and his murder
Grigory Rasputin was killed on December 17, 1916. Death is considered mysterious. Officially, two people are considered his killers, but five are accused of conspiracy.
Young people wanted the murder to look mystical and unrealistic. Three bullets were fired at Rasputin, but even after them he remained alive. Then Gregory was thrown into the water to confuse the investigation and add mysticism to this matter.
1. Burning the body after the revolution
Initially, it was decided to bury the body of Rasputin in the Wolf Cemetery. But after just one day, the council decided that it should be burned.
Firewood was brought to a certain place, and the body was pulled out of the coffin. The fire and the corpse were poured with gasoline, and then set on fire.
The bones that remained after the burning were destroyed in a different way, and the coffin in which he lay was melted. Thus, nothing remains of Grigory Rasputin but memories.