For over 200 years, St. Petersburg was the imperial capital of Russia St. Petersburg. The empire was locked in a disastrous war in 1916 and on the verge of revolution. St. Petersburg was overrun with rumors about a man they called “Temnyi” – “The Dark One.” Grigori Rasputin. He was reported to be a holy devil full of lust. A mad monk who was involved in every type of corruption while preaching the word of God. The might Tzar was reportedly hypnotized by him, and Tzarina his wife seduced. Even the bedrooms of the Tzar’s children were invaded by Rasputin. His presence in the palace was kept secret because he was the only one who could care for the heir to the throne, who was desperately ill.
Soon the legend of Rasputin replaced reality in stories about the Mad Monk. His evil reputation endures today, along with tales of his bizarre death. The legend of the satanic monk is more incredible than the truth surrounding the rise of Grigori Rasputin.
