Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The whole truth is actually a lot more complicated. What we're aiming to do in this series is to dispel the mist that surround where the most mysterious figures of the 20th century." — Marcus Parks
"The name Rasputin, they said, was given to him as an adult, as calling him 'Grigory Rasputin' was akin to calling him 'Grigory, the drunk.'" — Henry Zebrowski
"But the truth is actually a lot more complicated. What we're aiming to do in this series is to dispel the mist that surround where the most mysterious figures of the 20th century." — Marcus Parks
This inaugural episode on Grigori Rasputin meticulously unpacks his Siberian origins, tracing his birth in 1869 in the remote village of Pokrovskoye. The narrative debunks common myths surrounding his name, clarifying its geographical rather than purely descriptive origins, and contrasts the sensationalized accounts of his parents' lives with a more grounded reality of Siberian peasant existence. Early life experiences, including the high infant mortality rates common in the region and Rasputin's own survival through childhood illnesses, are presented as significant formative influences. The episode highlights his early reputation as an unusual child, marked by claims of an ability to perceive wrongdoing and a notable bed-wetting habit that further isolated him, yet also a deep, albeit rough, connection to his homeland and a nascent faith.
The conversation then transitions to Rasputin's spiritual awakening and the development of his persona. After surviving pneumonia at age eight and developing a close bond with horses, he claimed to communicate with them mentally. A pivotal moment occurred at age twelve when he accurately identified a horse thief, earning him a grudging respect and a growing reputation for having an uncanny insight. The episode explores his early tendencies towards disruptive behavior, earning him nicknames like "snivler" and "snott-nose," and the development of his striking eyes, which are described as a key element of his enigmatic character. His eventual marriage to Praskovia Dubrovina and the subsequent loss of their first three children underscore the harsh realities of life in Siberia, contributing to a sense of fatalism that would later inform his followers.
The latter part of the episode details Rasputin's transformation into a holy wanderer, or strennik, after a period of significant misbehavior and a village dispute led to a voluntary pilgrimage to the St. Nicholas monastery. This arduous journey, undertaken without alcohol and with a heightened spiritual focus, marked a significant turning point. He encountered Brother Macarie, a penitent monk, who became a spiritual mentor, teaching Rasputin the political utility of a connection with the common man and the power of mystic claims. Rasputin's vision of the Virgin Mary, instructing him to travel, solidified his belief in a grand destiny, setting him on a path toward the monastic center of Mount Athos, a journey that further honed his ascetic practices and developed his reputation for odor and self-mortification, though his brief visit to Mount Athos ended due to his discomfort with the openly homosexual monks.