Grigori Rasputin Imagine yourself in Russia, 1909. You are the queen of the Soviets, living in the royal palace. Outside sun filters through the lush green leaves that adorn the shade tree. Mixed with the sounds of water trickling down a fountain, there are birds singing a song, a song like honey on the ears. But inside, a dark room your child lies, eyes hallow and cheeks sunken in. He is dying of an illness a strange monk claims he can cure. You see the sheen of sweat envelope his pale face, and without a second thought you send for this strange man. He comes into the room, walking right past you and your daughters. He lays a weathered hand your son, mumbling incoherently. Slowly he stands up, nodding in your direction. Sprinting over the bed, a miracle awaits. No longer is he pale and shriveled. With eyes sparkling with life, vitality radiating off the skin, this is not the sick child from just moments ago. Who was this holy man that claimed to have these divine powers? This mystery man was Grigori Rasputin, born in Siberia Russia, 1869. His parents were both peasants, and therefore couldn’t afford an education for their son. He was born and raised in Pokrovskoye, a small farming village in Russia. Some people in his village claimed he had “magical” powers that were given to him by god. Yet others claimed that he committed evil acts, like torturing small animals in the field near his house. But everyone described him as a small, hunched over man who was somehow able to claim attention wherever he went. It was stated “he dragged his feet, slow and moping” and that he continuously had to keep his hands busy. Even through all these mixed messaged, it is common knowledge that Rasputin commanded power wherever he went. On February 2, 1887, Grigori married two Praskovia Fyodorovna Dubrovina. Together they had 3 children, Dimitri, Varvara and Maria; earlier sons died young. Suddenly, Rasputin left his family and his village. He traveled to Verkhoturye monastery, and later it was speculated he went here because of the death of his child. Not far from the monastery lived a monk by the name of Brother Makary. Makary had a strong influence on Rasputin, which led to Grigori giving up drinking, smoking, and eating meat. When he arrived home he had learned to read and write and had become a zealous convert. He continued to leave frequently, and was considered a deserter by his village. However, he returned home every year for the harvest. Many theories surround his reasons for finally leaving his family, but it is certain he left, and never came back. In 1906 he was
