Rasputin cult in Russia

[Joseph]

This may be a bit inflamatory, so be advised.

I heard a report on NPR this morning that might be of some small interest to this forum, I listened to it carefully and I think I can relay most of the main ideas. In a piece on the Russian Church (MP), the correspondant told of a powerful faction in Russia that seeks to have Grigory Rasputin canonized. This sect has apparently a very strong nostalgia toward the Russian monarchy, claiming in fact that their sect was the motivating factor in the MP's decision to canonize Tsar Nicholas II. Patriarch Alexei has denounced the canonization of Rasputin as "ludicrous", stating that the only people who are eligible for canonization are those with spotless reputations. The royalist faction responds to this by citing that Rasputin performed a miraculous healing and that his bad reputation stems from a plot involving a look alike who took part in extreme debauchery, and that all the rest is propaganda. That Rasputin was a man of prayer and a man of God cannot be denied, they say.

The royalist sect also seeks to canonize Ivan the Terrible, another infamous Russian of obviously imperial affiliaton.

The reporter stated that the Church had been dealing with this for a long time and that the only measure taken so far had been appeasement for the purpose of preventing schism. Patriarch Alexei appears to be steadfast in his conviction to keep Rasputin off the calendar, but the sect claims that it is only a matter of time before they will win and that Ivan the Terrible will be next on the list. :shock:

END.

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Talk about eccentrically Russian! Have we finally arrived at post-anti-communism? Or is it neo-post-anti? I can understand now why some clerics are so strongly against the idea of praying to as yet uncanonized Church figures.

In Christ:
Joseph the bumkim

[bogoliubtsy]

I saw this a few months ago. There are whackos everywhere I suppose.

[Natasha]

Yes, I read about this too. I personally do not think it is such a large, organized sect. I think this is being exaggerated to say the least.

[Justin2]

Speaking of royalty, I have some questions concerning the canonization of the Royal Family (Romanoff). So, exactly how did Tsar Nicholas achieve martyrdom? Was he specifically murdered because he was a Christian, or was he murdered because of a far larger political agenda? I don't mean to scandalize anyone, so if I have, forgive me. Still, I was always under the impression that Saints were usually one of two kinds of people:

1. Holy people who lived pristine lives (i.e. monastics, celebates, etc.)

or

1. People who lived basically normal Christian lives, but had their short-
   comings, who were willing to sacrifice their lives on earth to retain
   their faith in Christ.

So, not that Tsar Nicholas was a bad man, but he was still a man, and the idea that the Russians would have let him live, had he renounced his faith as an Orthodox Christian, is not one most would accept. So please, someone, enlighten me on this subject, as this is a very Russian board. Again, forgive me if I have heated anyone's blood with my questions, but that's all they are. I'm not trying to stir anything up over this.

[Natasha]

They are considered Passion-bearers. http://www.angelfire.com/va/ALLSAINTS/m ... passn.html

[bogoliubtsy]

Here's my take on it:

Tsar Martyr Nicholas was annointed with a Holy chrism by the Church, in the line of David, to be the Earthly sovereign of Russia- the third Rome. This chrism confirmed him as the God-appointed ruler of Holy Russia. At his annointing Tsar Nicholas became "the one who restraineth" on Earth-
"but that which now restraineth will restrain until it be taken out of the way, and "that wicked [one] be revealed."

The rejection of this God Annointed sovereign by many of the people, incited by the propaganda of godless bolsheviks, resulted in the murder of this God appointment ruler and his innocent family. A ruler who, if you read about his life and view of the world, truly was a pious Christian man. A man who raised his children in the same piety and Orthodox faith.

With the "one who restraineth" murdered, a spirit of lawlessness took over Russia.
I believe that Tsar Nicholas II is a martyr for two reasons. On the one hand he was annointed by the Church and chosen by God to lead an Orthodox nation. His signifigance here comes from who he was. Secondly, we have what he did. The tsar very humbly accepted his position as ruler of Russia, despite his desire not to. He took this heavy burden upon himself due to a love for his countrymen and a love for God. Under his reign more saints were glorified than under any other Tsar. He protected Mt. Athos, he spent a great deal of his own personal wealth on building churches througout Russia, the United States, and Europe.
Also, another piece of this that speaks to the Tsar Martry's sanctity is St. John of San Francisco's opinion of him. Even if there is something failing in my 21st century, most likely disorted "western" way of thinking, I do believe that St. John "had it right" and certainly had the Grace to see things as they truly are.

Check out a portion of my webpage dedicated to the New and Royal Martyrs: http://notofthisworld.freeservers.com/custom.html

Below is a homily given by St.John:

Homily Before A Memorial Service For The Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II given by Archbishop(now Saint) John Maximovitch(1896-1966) of San Francisco
Forty years ago, a single day saw the collapse of the greatness and glory of the Russian State, a bulwark of peace throughout the whole world. The signature of the Sovereign,the Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich, on the act of abdication from the Throne,is a historical boundary separating Russia's great and glorious past from her present dark and cruel circumstances.
The entire weight of the present regime's evil and its reordering of life is aimed at honest, well-intentioned and devout people, and the whole nation lies in oppression and constant fear. People are afraid of their own thoughts, thoughts they have not expressed aloud; they are afraid that what they are thinking might be reflected in their facial expressions.

What happened that day, forty years ago? Apostasy from God's Anointed, apostasy from an authority submissive to God, apostasy from the oath of fidelity to the Anointed Sovereign, given before God, and the giving over to him to death.
He who had devoted all his strengthin God's name to the service of Russia was deprived of authority, and then also of freedom.

For decades the dark forces of evil carried on a struggle against God's Anointed, against the ruling authority faithful to God. These same forces also killed the Emperor Alexander II,the Tsar-Liberator.
This crime sobered the people, it shook the entire country, and that moral up surge gave Emperor Alexander III, the Peacemaker, the opportunity to rule Russia with a strong arm. Russia enjoyed two decades of peaceful life and development. Then a new conspiracy arose for the overthrow of the Royal Throne. It was a conspiracy of Russia's enemies.

Within Russia itself there was a struggle against her very essence, and, having destroyed the Throne, Russia's enemies even obliterated her name.
Now the whole world can see the close connection between the Royal authority, faithful to God, and Russia. When the Tsar ceased to be - Russia ceased to be.

The struggle against the Tsar and Russia was carried out by concealed godlessness, which later revealed itself openly. Such was the essence of the struggle against the Tsar and Russia, against the foundation of her life and historical development. Such are the meaning and aim of that struggle, which perhaps not everyone realized - those who were its accomplices.

Eveything filthy and paltry and sinful which could be found in the human soul was summoned against the Tsar and Russia. All of this, with all its might, rose up in struggle against the Royal Crown, which was crowned by a cross, for Royal service is bearing of the Cross.

People always rise up against the Cross by means of slander and falsehood, doing the devil's work, for, according to the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it " (St. John 8:44).

Everything was roused up against the most meek, pure and abundantly-loving Tsar, so that at the terrible hour of the struggle against him he would remain alone. Filthy slanders were spread before hand against the Tsar and his family, so that the people would grow cool towards him.

Faithfuless allies took part in the conspiracy. When the Sovereign was in need of moral support, his closest associates did not provide it and violated their oath. Some took part inthe conspiracy; others, out of weakness, counseled abdication. The Tsar remained completely alone, surrounded by "treachery, baseness and cowardice."
From the day of the abdication, everything began to collapse. It could not have been otherwise. The one who united everything, who stood guard for the Truth, was overthrown. A sin was committed, and now sin had easy access. In vain do some wish to separate February from October,* the one was a direct consequence of the other.
In those March days, Pskov became the Tsar's Gethsemane, and Ekaterinburg-his Golgotha. Tsar Nicholas died as a martyr, with unshakeable faith and patience, having drunk the cup of suffering to the dregs.

The sin against him and against Russia was perpetrated by all who in one way or another acted against him, who did not oppose, or who merely by sympathizing participated in those events which took place forty years ago. That sin lies upon everyone until it is washed away by sincere repentance.

In raising up prayers for the repose of his soul, we pray also for Tsars Paul I and Alexander II, who were likewise slain in March. And we pray for the forgiveness of the Russian people of the grave sin of betrayal and regicide. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Before us, before the Russian people, lies the path of resurgence-which is the path of consciousness of sin and repentance.
For the rebirth of Russia, all political and other programs of unification are in vain: what Russia needs is the moral renewal of the Russian people.
We must pray for the forgiveness of our sins and for mercy on our homeland, just as the Lord God freed Israel from the Babylonian captivity and restored the ruined city of Jerusalem."

*Many attribute the Russian Revolution to the Bolsheviks, who seized power in October (.S.) 1917. Archbishop John and others point out that the groundwork for the Revolution was laid much earlier, as evidenced by the lack of support given the Tsar the time of the February uprisings, which precipitated his forced abdication in March. -pub.
(Source: "MAN OF GOD SAINT JOHN OF SHANGHAIAND SAN FRANCISCO", Nikodemos Orthodox Publication Society, Redding,Ca., 1994., pp. 131-133).

[Justin2]

Well, it makes more sense as such. Thanks