Well, I'd have to add my agreement to Joy's post (like pretty much everyone else). I do not believe that Rasputin was a Man of God. However, I do agree that somehow, he did have an effect of Alexei. It would be interesting to know just how he did it. Perhaps hypnosis did indeed have something to do with it. But he was not a Man of God.
Just my thoughts, figured I should find my way out of the Color Photos thread.