Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, the "Mad Monk" of Russia

Grigori Rasputin
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One of the more colorful individuals of the World War One era was a Russian 
monk named Grigori Rasputin.

He had a rather unique interpretation on Luke 7:36-50.
In the story, a women of bad reputation begs Jesus for forgiveness, which, 
of course he grants her.

In the story Jesus basically asks, who loves me more, someone who has been 
forgiven a little or someone forgiven a lot. The answer is, of course, the 
one forgiven a lot (see Biblical quotation below).

Well, Rasputin argued then, that that means one should engage in the most 
degenerate, disgusting, sinful, crude behavior one possibly can come up with 
(or down with), (did I mention degenerate?) and then seek Jesus' forgiveness 
and that by doing such, they would experience the love of God which the rest 
of us poor slobs, with our petty little infractions, can never know.

And it's Biblical ... well, sort of.

One thing you have to give Rasputin credit for - he was no religious phony. 
He did't preach one thing while practicing another. No, he was definitely 
into it (did I mention degenerate?). He practiced what he preached with a 
passion and so evidently loved God more than anyone you'll ever know.

Anyway, the Czar's son was born with a terrible genetic disease, Haemophilia 
B, which doesn't allow blood to clot. This means the boy could die from even 
a minor cut.

In 1912 the boy became quite ill and all of the doctors said nothing could 
be done, that he would die. As a result the Czar and his wife turned to 
mystics and "starets" (holy men) including Rasputin.

Rasputin told the Czarina that the boy would pull through and be fine, which 
he did.
As a result, the Czarina invited Rasputin into the royal court where he 
exercised a growing degree of influence in part due to their growing 
interest in mysticism.

He of course also started to build up a growing list of adversaries jealous 
of his influence with the Czarina and the Czar and a "distaste for 
Rasputin's debaucheries".

Well, by December 1916 a number of high up people decided he had to go.

I remember there was even a Saturday Night Live sketch about killing 
Rasputin.
The facts are a little sketchy but anyway, some Counts invited him over for 
dinner and tried to poison him with cynide laced wine and cakes.

After an hour or so that didn't work so they shot him with a revolver.
He managed to get up and get out into a courtyard where they shot at him 4 
more times - missing 3 times. Ten to twenty minutes later when he started to 
move again they shot him point blank in the head and then dumped his body in 
a nearby river.

Rasputin had his religious convictions "confirmed" on December 30, 1916 (if 
you get my drift).

Because of the high ranking people involved, and the general dislike of 
Rasputin by most people by that time, the police were ordered to drop their 
investigation.

And Alexei, the Czar's son?
Well, he did eventually bleed to death but it probably had more to do with 
being riddle with bullets from a Commie execution squad that murdered the 
entire royal family on 07/17/1918 than from Haemophilia B per se.

Hey, it's not always "good to be the king".


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Luke 7:36-50 (New Jerusalem Bible translation)

36 One of the Pharisees invited him [Jesus] to a meal. When he arrived at 
the Pharisee's house and took his place at table,

37 suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard 
he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of 
ointment.

38 She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his 
feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with 
kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If 
this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is and what sort of 
person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.'

40 Then Jesus took him up and said, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' 
He replied, 'Say on, Master.'

41 'There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five 
hundred denarii, the other fifty.

42 They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love 
him more?'

43 Simon answered, 'The one who was let off more, I suppose.' Jesus said, 
'You are right.'

44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'You see this woman? I 
came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has 
poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair.

45 You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever 
since I came in.

46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with 
ointment.

47 For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been 
forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is 
forgiven little who shows little love.'

48 Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'

49 Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this 
man, that even forgives sins?'

50 But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'