# What Did The Russian Orthodox Church Think of Rasputin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625 "2011-08-13T23:35:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/1 "2011-08-13T23:35:04Z")
I cannot imagine that the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg (head of the RO Church?) could have had much respect for Rasputin. First: Rasputin was not an ordained member of the church-he was neither a priest or monk Second, although he was called “starets” (holy man), we was a filthy, uneducated boor-who upon occasion, utilized the services of prostitutes . Third: the Tsarina (a devout convert to orthodoxy) would have had a special relationship with the church (own priest/confessor, etc.)-having a guy like Rasputin around would tend to weaken her relationship with the church Of course, Rasputin became a friend of the Tasr and his wife, because he could ease the sufferings of the crown prince (Prince Alexei) who suffered agonies from hemophilia. Give the tension surrounding Rasputin, is is reasonable to conclude that the ROC hierarchy would like to have seen him dead? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/2 "2011-08-14T00:11:32Z")
He was a cat that really was gone. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/3 "2011-08-14T00:19:01Z")
I’d like to know the answer to this as well. I should know it already, but I’m always afraid of learning too much about Rasputin and having the reality not live up to my expectations. **Guinastasia** should be in soon with the answer. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/4 "2011-08-14T00:38:06Z")
not a direct answer to your question, but this article [http://bibliotekar.ru/rasputin/12.htm](http://bibliotekar.ru/rasputin/12.htm) says that Nicholas II practiced spiritism (he wanted to know his fate :eek:). Apparently “Russian Orthodox Church”, or whichever part of it that happened to be around the Emperor of all Russias, didn’t care. Or, couldn’t do anything. This article [http://rzhevpress.ru/?p=1676](http://rzhevpress.ru/?p=1676) says that the Empress’s last confessor (from 1914) initially “believed” in Rasputin but later on (apparently before 1916) changed his mind. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/5 "2011-08-14T00:51:31Z")
ok, Russian wikipedia article actually has some details about Church’s opposition to the guy. > [@](#): > > In early 1911 bishop Feofan proposed to Most Holy Synod to officially express concern to the Empress A. F. about Rasputin’s behavior, and member of M. H. Synod the metropolitan Antoniy (Vadkovskiy) made a report to Nicholas II about his negative influence. > > On 12/16/1911 Rasputin had a fight with bishop Germogen and hieromonk Iliodor. Bishop Germogen, acting in concert with h. Iliador. (Trufanov) invited Rasputin to his (church) estate at Vasilievsky island and “railed against” him with Iliador present and also struck him several times with a cross. They had an argument and then a physical fight. The article also mentioned some clergymen who occasionally supported Rasputin, possibly for ulterior reasons. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/6 "2011-08-14T00:54:03Z")
From the English wikipedia > [@](#): > > He did not fit in with the royal family, and he and the Russian Orthodox Church had a very tense relationship. The Holy Synod frequently attacked Rasputin, accusing him of a variety of immoral or evil practices ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/7 "2011-08-14T01:02:29Z")
What was Rasputin’s policy on the Jews? I’ve often heard that it was one of Czar Nicholas’ pogroms that caused my great grandfather to flee to America. But, what did Grigori think about the empire’s Hebrews? ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/8 "2011-08-14T02:33:22Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > What was Rasputin’s policy on the Jews? I’ve often heard that it was one of Czar Nicholas’ pogroms that caused my great grandfather to flee to America. But, what did Grigori think about the empire’s Hebrews? his secretary claims here [Еврейский вопрос. Распутин и евреи](http://bibliotekar.ru/rasputin/17.htm) that he opposed antisemitism and took bribes from rich Jews to try obtain better treatment for Jews. This is OT, but this article [http://www.aha.ru/~taldm/hri.htm](http://www.aha.ru/~taldm/hri.htm) claims that Nikolay Ruzsky, a general in the Russian WW1 western front actually permitted large scale pogroms by his soldiers, AFAIU somewhere in Western Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/9 "2011-08-14T02:35:20Z")
Spaceba! ---
**Author:** ![ChanaDvora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@ChanaDvora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChanaDvora)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/10 "2011-08-17T13:56:52Z")
The real Rasputin is revealed in a new book, “Rasputin and The Jews: A Reversal of History”. As summarized on Amazon: “This book is a well-documented account of Rasputin as a healer, equal rights activist and man of God, and why he was so vilified by the aristocracy that their vicious rumors became accepted as history. For nearly a century, Grigory Rasputin, spiritual advisor to Russia’s last Tsar and Tsarina, has been unjustly maligned simply because history is written by the politically powerful and not by the common man. A wealth of evidence shows that Rasputin was discredited by a fanatically anti-Semitic Russian society, for advocating equal rights for the severely oppressed Jewish population, as well as for promoting peace in a pro-war era. Testimony by his friends and enemies, from all social strata, provides a picture of a spiritual man who hated bigotry, inequity and violence.” [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1461027756](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1461027756) Initially, the Russian Orthodox clergy were impressed with Rasputin’s knowledge of scripture and his magnetic style of preaching to a crowd. But the bishops and cardinals wanted to be the path to God for the people, while Rasputin preached that people could speak directly to God, without an intermediary. In addition, he criticized the church for only giving aid and comfort to Russian Orthodox followers, when he felt it would be more Christ-like to help all people in need. Certainly, the aid he provided to the severely persecuted Jewish population did nothing to endear him to the rabidly anti-Semitic Russian clergy and nobility, nor did his efforts to avoid war and bloodshed. All of this and much more information can be found in this very informative book. ---
**Author:** ![ChanaDvora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@ChanaDvora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChanaDvora)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/11 "2011-08-17T14:05:18Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > his secretary claims here [Еврейский вопрос. Распутин и евреи](http://bibliotekar.ru/rasputin/17.htm) that he opposed antisemitism and took bribes from rich Jews to try obtain better treatment for Jews. > > This is OT, but this article [http://www.aha.ru/~taldm/hri.htm](http://www.aha.ru/~taldm/hri.htm) claims that Nikolay Ruzsky, a general in the Russian WW1 western front actually permitted large scale pogroms by his soldiers, AFAIU somewhere in Western Ukraine. Not just Ruzsky, but all the Romanovs sanctioned pogroms. Rasputin tried to stop them, but the Tsar (and most of the nobility) were extremely anti-Semitic. And Rasputin didn’t take bribes. He had no interest in or need for money. Any monies that were given were used either to help out the poor or to bribe officials to allow Jews the things they were denied: education, the occupation of their choice, and the ability to live where they wanted (since most were confined to a large ghetto called The Pale of Settlement and leaving could cause you to be imprisoned). Sometimes the money was used to bribe officials to let innocent people out of prison, or to abandon plans of pogroms (raids where entire villages of Jews were tortured and slaughtered) Isn’t it odd that the Romanovs, who had so much blood on their hands, are deified, while Rasputin who never harmed nor killed a soul, is vilified? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/12 "2011-08-17T14:43:31Z")
So why was Rasputin’s willy kept in a box and…admired…by some women of the aristocracy? Because he never used it? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/13 "2011-08-17T17:28:22Z")
Apparently that’s something of a myth, and the supposed relic is actually a creature known as a sea cucumber. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/14 "2011-08-17T18:53:17Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Apparently that’s something of a myth, and the supposed relic is actually a creature known as a sea cucumber. Well that’s damned depressing. So, Felix Ussopov (however one spells it) can’t be my hero anymore? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/15 "2011-08-17T19:27:52Z")
One would have thought that given the number of Jews in the revolution that Rasputin would have been exonerated afterward. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/16 "2011-08-17T20:11:59Z")
Regarding Rasputin’s supposed “influence” over the Tsar-was that really true? Prince Felix Youssipov gave that as the reason for the murder of Rasputin-but as far as I can see, Tsar Nicholas had screwed up the army royally-he needed no help from Rasputin. I do find interesting Rasputin’s famous final prophecy: “I will be murdered…if I am killed by the nobility, Russia and the house of Romanov will fall, and there will be a revolution. If I am killed by the peasants, the House of Romanov and Holy Russia will endure for another 100 years”. I cannot remember if this was ever proven to be uttered by Rasputin. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/17 "2011-08-17T20:47:14Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Tsar Nicholas had screwed up the army royally-he needed no help from Rasputin. The difficulty was that Rasputin increased the unpopularity of a German tsarina among the people during war with Germany. ---
**Author:** ![ChanaDvora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@ChanaDvora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChanaDvora)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/18 "2011-08-18T13:14:45Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > One would have thought that given the number of Jews in the revolution that Rasputin would have been exonerated afterward. :dubious: There was an investigation by the Extraordinary Commission of the Provisional Government following the 1917 Revolution, which cleared Rasputin of any wrong-doing. But that doesn’t make a very good story, does it? You can’t make an interesting movie or book out of that. And some have tried to write books exonerating him (including a several people who knew him), but people prefer the myth, the sensationalism. They want to believe the wild stories. ---
**Author:** ![ChanaDvora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@ChanaDvora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChanaDvora)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/19 "2011-08-18T13:25:23Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Regarding Rasputin’s supposed “influence” over the Tsar-was that really true? > Prince Felix Youssipov gave that as the reason for the murder of Rasputin-but as far as I can see, Tsar Nicholas had screwed up the army royally-he needed no help from Rasputin. > I do find interesting Rasputin’s famous final prophecy: > “I will be murdered..if I am killed by the nobility, Russia and the house of Romanov will fall, and there will be a revolution. If I am killed by the peasants, the House of Romanov and Holy Russia will endure for another 100 years”. > I cannot remember if this was ever proven to be uttered by Rasputin. Rasputin had very little influence over the Tsar. He certainly couldn’t get him to accord equal rights to the Jews and he couldn’t stop him from entering World War I. He made many common sense suggestions to the Tsar (such as the above two) which, had Nicholas II followed them, might well have avoided the Revolution. And the last quote you have, about his quote, may or may not have been said by him. A number of people who knew him said he did say this, but no one knows for sure. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625/20 "2011-08-18T13:30:31Z")
Apparently Robert K. Massie hadn’t heard about this. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-russian-orthodox-church-think-of-rasputin/592625.md?page=2)