Did Grand Duchess Anastasia truly trust Grigori Rasputin?

[Intrigued]

Just wondering what Anastasia's relationship was like with Rasputin (grigory). Did she like him? or dislike him? or was she not really that close to him?

[Maria_Romanov_fan]

I think that Anastasia, being who she was, wasn't too close to him. I think she respected him as one of her mother's friends, and someone who could help her brother.

Does anyone know if she belived in his powers?

[otmafan]

I think she was suspicious of him, but was thankful her brother became well when he was there or when he talked to them.

[helenazar]

I believe that although none of the girls saw Rasputin very much or were very close to him, they followed their parent's lead and liked and respected him. They, including I'm sure, Anastasia, seemed to believe in his "powers" and sometimes wrote him affectionate letters, much like their mother. They even wore small icons with his picture on their necks, for "good luck". When they lived at the Alexander Palace, occasionally they  used to visit Anna Vyrubova's cottage to see him.

Here is a photo from one of such visits:

[bball33]

She liked him because he healed her brother when he was feeling ill. A lot of people think he used hypnosis to calm Alexei and Alix. Just what I've read.

[Lanie]

She, like the other girls, thought of him as a friend to whom she could talk to about her fears, worries, etc, as evidenced in a letter from her to Rasputin.  She always would ask for him to pray for her.

[Georgiy]

In a lot of fiction books about the Romanovs, the girls or one of them or some of them are depicted as disliking Rasputin, however this betrays the author's and/or history's prejudice towards Rasputin. They probably never knew or heard much of the more sordid side to his character, and probably loved him very much. The only exception may be Olga, as I heard that after Rasputin was murdered she said "I know he did lots of bad things, but why did they have to treat him like this?" but even that statement to my mind doesn't suggest that she disliked him.

[Anastasia]

hey does anyone know...i heard that olga was not present at rasputin's funeral. did anyone else hear this?

[Lanie]

I've read that too--that Olga was the only daughter missing.  I don't know if it's true or not...

[matushka]

According to the Nicolas' diary, the whole family was in funeral. And Olga was some time with her mother in Rasputin's grave. I have a photo, I copy it in a Marina Grey's book (in french). It is said that it is at the GE' funeral. There is Ania, O.N, T.N and Alexandra. But I do not know is that really this event. Unforntuntely, I let all my paper collection in my motherland... Perhaps someone know this book about Rasputin?

[Anastasia_R]

She, like the other girls, thought of him as a friend to whom she could talk to about her fears, worries, etc, as evidenced in a letter from her to Rasputin.  She always would ask for him to pray for her.

Where did you find the letter?Could you post it or give the link?

[Lanie]

There are copies of some letters in various Rasputin books which I don't have.  I just remember she told Rasputin to pray for her, and that she was mean and hit Alexei but now was trying to be a good girl and be nice to him or something like that.

[Anastasia_R]

There are copies of some letters in various Rasputin books which I don't have.  I just remember she told Rasputin to pray for her, and that she was mean and hit Alexei but now was trying to be a good girl and be nice to him or something like that.

Thank you!I'll keep an eye out for some Rasputin books!

[Anastasia]

might want to try radzinsky's book. i remember a few years ago i flipped through it in an airport and saw a letter from anastasia to rasputin in it. i remember it was quite long. that might be the book you're looking for, but i can't say for certain.

[Sarastasia]

I agree that she probably liked him for the fact that he made her brother feel better, but I think she thought he was a fraud. For example: "If he could make Alexei fell so much better, then why wasn't he curing him?"

Sarastasia.

P.S: On another thought: is it not likely that the "Mad Monk" with all his womanizing tried to assualt OTMA at some point?