Questions about the Alexander Palace grounds...

There are always fresh flowers at the scene...

Here is a version of the grave that can be enlarged.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/10544062.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10544062&usg=__9IrqitCn1CaimjBfaNqUk7LWGIw=&h=2048&w=1536&sz=1308&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=o7GswAl9OK8_oM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drasputin%2527s%2Bgrave%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive

The inscription says: This cross is erected in place of the chapel of San Serafin, where in December 1916 was buried the body of a friend of the Tsars, the monk Grigori Rasputin
"God save them" (G. Rasputin)

Thank you, Cristina.  It is interesting that the inscription does not mention Nicholas & Alexandra by name.   I believe there were plans to build a chapel around Rasputin's grave, but the revolution put a stop to that.  Fresh flowers at the site would please Alexandra though. 

I believe there were plans to build a chapel around Rasputin's grave, but the revolution put a stop to that.

The chapel was in progress at the time of Rasputin's murder, and was apparently a project of Anya Vyrubova.

Olga's diary:
"At 9 we 4, Papa and Mama rode to the site of Anya’s building, where a service was conducted and Father Grigori was buried -- on the left side of the future church. Save us, Holy Lord..."

Maria's diary:
"The 4 of us were with Papa, Mama and others at Gregory’s funeral. Buried at Ania’s construction."

Vyroubova had indeed been building a church there.  Spridovitch writes in "Raspoutine" (my translation from my personal copy" pg 403

"The 21st, in the morning, at Tsarskoe Selo the weather was grey and sleet.  A little before 9 in the morning, General Voiekov was informed that Their Majesties had ordered a car.

At 9 o'clock Their Majesties and their four daughters left for the site where they were to inter Rasputin.  Nobody from the Suite accompanied them.  The Commandant of the Palace himself believed that he had the power to order this.

The place chosen was located to the north of the Palace park, on some land which Mme. A.A. Vyroubova had purchased from the peasants in the village of Alexandrovka in order to build a charitable institution.