A perverted, degenerate mystic who participated in wild orgies and manipulated the Tsar into losing his empire — such is the common myth of Rasputin, which would naturally lead any rational person to think I’m insane for even suggesting that such a vile individual should be canonized among the Saints of our Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Orthodox Church.
I am wondering if you have a source for the quote you put in the article: Tsarevich Alexei said: “There was a saint, Grigory Efimovich, but he was killed.”
I have never come across this before that I can recall.
(Author: Alexei - Russia's Last Tsesarevich: Letters, Diaries and Writings)
It’s from: Evsin, I., Oklevetannyi Starets (The Slandered Elder), p 10. Igor Evsin cites as the source: Григорий Распутин, Сборник исторических материалов, М, 1997, Volume 2, p 111. This is from Georgy Shavelsky’s memoirs where Fr. Georgy references a conversation between Tsarevich Alexei and the sailor Andrei Derevenko.
Well as you probably know, the popular idea is that he yelled at the Tsesarevich, betrayed the Imperial Family and left them - some of this has its origins in Anna Vyrubova's book. However, Anna was arrested very early on and taken away from the palace so it seems likely she misconstrued something. There are several photos of Dereven'ko working with the Imperial Family during their captivity at Tsarskoe Selo long after her arrest. He also received a promotion to Valet to Alexei in July 1917. He petitioned the Provisional Government to be allowed to accompany the Imperial Family to Tobolsk. They disallowed it and used an expensive bill for boots for Alexei as an excuse. The commissar asked Alexandra if she thought he was trustworthy and she said he was. Nevertheless he wasn't allowed to go with them - his luggage ended up in Tobolsk though. He continued to correspond with Nagorny in Tobolsk as well as petition the Provisional Government to be allowed to go to Tobolsk.
Back in 2021, there was an episode from *The Rest Is History* podcast about Rasputin(episode 128). Two British secular historians, who had no stake in the matter, concluded that all the slander against him was false and that he was actually a very kind man—truly fitting the description of a man of God. I was very surprised at the time, as I wasn’t Orthodox back then. Thank you for your article; I hope that one day we can all recognize that he truly was a man of God.
This was an interesting listen, notwithstanding the historical ignorance on Tsar Saint Nicholas II. Unfortunately, their only source of information seems to have been Douglas Smith’s “Rasputin” which is not a bad book but still quite lacking in certain aspects.
Thank you so much! Just placed an order for the book and am on the hunt for the others in the thread you compiled! I greatly appreciate your response.
One other small question if I may: is it possible to obtain an icon of Rasputin from anywhere? The few I've seen online either don't ship overseas or are printed on board instead of painted.
Greatly appreciated! Tried to drop a message on X, but apparently you can't be messaged there. I also obtained "My Father" by Maria Rasputin, and am looking forward to reading it.
Radzinsky also wrote The Rasputin File, which partially inspired the name of this Substack and corresponding Twitter account. It is a highly inaccurate book that helped perpetuate myths about Grigory Rasputin to this day, yet it remains a classic in the study of his life. I do not recommend reading it as history, since Radzinsky (a playwright himself) took many creative liberties.
I am wondering if you have a source for the quote you put in the article: Tsarevich Alexei said: “There was a saint, Grigory Efimovich, but he was killed.”
I have never come across this before that I can recall.
(Author: Alexei - Russia's Last Tsesarevich: Letters, Diaries and Writings)
It’s from: Evsin, I., Oklevetannyi Starets (The Slandered Elder), p 10. Igor Evsin cites as the source: Григорий Распутин, Сборник исторических материалов, М, 1997, Volume 2, p 111. This is from Georgy Shavelsky’s memoirs where Fr. Georgy references a conversation between Tsarevich Alexei and the sailor Andrei Derevenko.
Thank you for that. Andrei Dereven'ko is another one whose name has been dragged through the mud, and reputation tarnished.
Interesting. What information do you have about that?
Well as you probably know, the popular idea is that he yelled at the Tsesarevich, betrayed the Imperial Family and left them - some of this has its origins in Anna Vyrubova's book. However, Anna was arrested very early on and taken away from the palace so it seems likely she misconstrued something. There are several photos of Dereven'ko working with the Imperial Family during their captivity at Tsarskoe Selo long after her arrest. He also received a promotion to Valet to Alexei in July 1917. He petitioned the Provisional Government to be allowed to accompany the Imperial Family to Tobolsk. They disallowed it and used an expensive bill for boots for Alexei as an excuse. The commissar asked Alexandra if she thought he was trustworthy and she said he was. Nevertheless he wasn't allowed to go with them - his luggage ended up in Tobolsk though. He continued to correspond with Nagorny in Tobolsk as well as petition the Provisional Government to be allowed to go to Tobolsk.
I did not know this, thank you for sharing.
This is a great article. I have talked to monastics in America and it is a growing belief that Rasputin is a holy man.
Do you want to come on my podcast to talk about this?
I’d love to. Could you message me on X? @RasputinTruth
Back in 2021, there was an episode from *The Rest Is History* podcast about Rasputin(episode 128). Two British secular historians, who had no stake in the matter, concluded that all the slander against him was false and that he was actually a very kind man—truly fitting the description of a man of God. I was very surprised at the time, as I wasn’t Orthodox back then. Thank you for your article; I hope that one day we can all recognize that he truly was a man of God.
This was an interesting listen, notwithstanding the historical ignorance on Tsar Saint Nicholas II. Unfortunately, their only source of information seems to have been Douglas Smith’s “Rasputin” which is not a bad book but still quite lacking in certain aspects.
What would be the best books to read up on about Rasputin? I read Douglas Smith's book, and am looking for other reliable ones.
I would start with Killing Rasputin by Margarita Nelipa. You may also want to check out this thread.
https://x.com/rasputintruth/status/1955863120385110212?s=46
Thank you so much! Just placed an order for the book and am on the hunt for the others in the thread you compiled! I greatly appreciate your response.
One other small question if I may: is it possible to obtain an icon of Rasputin from anywhere? The few I've seen online either don't ship overseas or are printed on board instead of painted.
I am not sure, I don’t own one myself. I’ll ask around and try to get back to you. You can also message me on X @RasputinTruth
Greatly appreciated! Tried to drop a message on X, but apparently you can't be messaged there. I also obtained "My Father" by Maria Rasputin, and am looking forward to reading it.
I didn’t realize that. You should be able to message me now. Sorry!
Clearly he did something right.
Radzinsky also wrote The Rasputin File, which partially inspired the name of this Substack and corresponding Twitter account. It is a highly inaccurate book that helped perpetuate myths about Grigory Rasputin to this day, yet it remains a classic in the study of his life. I do not recommend reading it as history, since Radzinsky (a playwright himself) took many creative liberties.