Real Rasputin:
1. Without doubts, Rasputin possessed the gift of the healing (even on distance, without contact to a person). Without doubts, he some times rescued Alexi from illness and Alexandra had absolutely all the bases to not leave him.
Boris, there is no way to prove this scientifically or conclusively. What we are left with are Nicholas & Alexandra's perceptions of his abilities. It is hard to know, from their writings, what he acutally did and wether or not it would have happened anyway. Rasputin himself said that there were times he used drugs in healing. Whether or not he did in this case, we can't know.
2. Even before acquaintance to Imperial family he has received a revelation from above (Revelation of Heavens), that he should go to St.-Petersburg to Imperial family. Certainly, elements of personal vanity accompanied with his mission, but he sincerely considered the service to Imperial family as the Mission from God.
Again, not something that can be proven. This is a matter of belief and faith. That is what is required. You either believe he had a revelation or you do not. But cannot be proven either way. Not by science. For all we know he could have been hallucinating. Too me, it is a bunch of manipulative poppycock designed to catch the attention of a very vulnerable tsar and tsarina.
3. All period of his mission in Imperial family can be divided into two periods: prior to the beginning WWI (1914) and after beginning WWI. Prior to the beginning WWI he at all did not drink wine and was modest and silent in St.-Petersburg. It is known, that in July, 1914 he has sent to Nicholas II about 20 (!) telegrams with desperate requests to not admit the beginning of war. He expected awful consequences of war for Russia and Imperial family. Not he one: minister Durnovo warned of it too.
It would be interesting to see some of those telgrams. Do you have a souce? And it wouldn't take a genuis to figure out that entering the war was a bad deal for Russia. It sometimes seems like the only person who couldn't see that was the tsar. Again, there were many who knew Russia could not support the war, but Nicholas refused to listen.
After the beginning of war he has started to drink wine and he has started to get in scandals. He considered the future collapse is inevitable... and he could not operate the emotions as it is peculiar to many Russian people.
Agreed
4. It seems Radzinsky wrote, that «it would be strange, if Rasputin has not left the prophetical letter» - Radzinsky was right. The letter was. Perhaps, Simanovitch (his former secretary) has reproduced it on memory and not quite in Rasputin's style, but the letter was. Rasputin saw visions as well as was clairvoyant and healer.
In the autumn of 1916 Rasputin already knew, that he will be killed.
Radzinsky is a wonderful writer, but his opinions are just that...his opinions. He was merely writing his personal opinion when he worte this.
Moreover, he knew, that he will be killed on December, 16th in palace of Yusupov. There are some very strong indirect demonstrations (evidences) of it.
5. As to hearsays about the influence of Rasputin on Alexandra\Nicholas decisions, - these hearsays were hundredfold exaggerated by opposition. It was the intentioned slander of opposition.
Maybe. But where is the proof beyond his daughter's writings? All of those historians could not have been this wrong all of those years.
Director of Department of police A.T.Vasiliev (see his memories «Okhrana - Russian secret police») wrote about that time (1916), that he specially was engaged in investigation of Rasputin's influence and has found, that only two (from approximately ten-twelve) Rasputin's "notes" with requests for the important purposes(assignments) have been satisfied. His conclusion was those: Rasputin's requests were satisfied only when they corresponded to opinion of Alexandra and Nicholas.
I am unaware of this and will check it out. We also have to consider the letters of Nicholas and Alexandra to each other. There are letters in which Alex tell Nicky "their friends" advice and encourages him to heed it. The fact of the matter remains, he should not have had any influence at all.
Of course, Rasputin after 1914 gave irreconcilable opposition many occasions for attacks on Alexandra\Nicholas (and - the MAIN thing - many occasions for distribution of hearsays and slander), however, Rasputin himself had not a negative influence on the Imperial family. More correctly to tell, that his influence was positively in all aspects.
I could not disagree more.
Many oppositionists with surprise have recognized, that it has been changed nothing after murder of Rasputin. Others have told, that all things became even worse.
Whether anyone can give one-two concrete example of negative influence of Rasputin on Imperial family? As far as I remember, the Commission of Provisional government could not find any important compromising evidences (proofs) neither on Rasputin, nor on empress Alexandra.
Sources on the Commission's findings?
By the way, I shall remind, that main "cool girl" and "girl-friend" (and ostensibly "companion in crime") of Rasputin, Anna Vyrubova in reply to charge has demanded medical examination and she appeared the virgin. I think, the same effect is the answer to other charges to address of Rasputin.
6. Director of Department of police A.T.Vasiliev («Okhrana - Russian secret police») wrote:
«Harbingers of revolution aspired to make from Rasputin a frightful-image to carry out own devilish plans. Therefore they distributed the most bad hearsays which made an impression, that only at intermediary of this Siberian muzhik it is possible to achieve a high position and influence …
A mind (a natural wisdom) and natural sharpness enabled him sometimes soberly and acutely to judge the person even on one meeting or a sight. It was known to tsarina, therefore she sometimes asked his opinion on this or that candidate on a high post in the government. But from such questions up to ostensibly an ordering of ministers by Rasputin - very big step and neither tsar, nor tsarina never did this step, undoubtedly.
As I have said before, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And what you are describing is intuition which many people possess. It was not unique to Rasputin or some special divine gift. And the example you site about court appointments shows exactly how much influence he had.
Nevertheless many people believed, that all depends on a scrap of a paper with the several words written by Rasputin's hand … Sometimes I investigated these hearsays, but never found convincing proofs of their truthfulness.
I'm not sure what you are getting at here.
Someone can think, that all this is my sentimental inventions. No, I base on reports of agents which worked as years as servants in house of Rasputin - they knew his daily life up to the smallest details».
And who are those agents? Where can one find their writings?
Boris