Visit the homeland of Rasputin in Pokrovskoye

Grigory Rasputin is probably one of the most famous and mysterious personalities in 20th-century Russia. He easily entered the world list of Russian symbols - vodka, balalaika, matryoshka…  His image is used as an alcoholic beverage, tobacco, restaurant, club, and trade brand. Books and songs are dedicated to him. Films are made about him. But still, Rasputin remains a mystery. Who was he - a holy old man or a drunkard and a libertine? Visit the homeland of Rasputin in Pokrovskoye, and perhaps you will find the answer to many of these questions.

How to get there

The village of Pokrovskoye is located 80 kilometers from Tyumen on the road to Tobolsk. From Tyumen Bus Station, every half an hour, buses leave to Yarkovo, Vagay, or Tobolsk. They all stop at Pokrovskoye. The village has a hotel complex "Teply Stan". This is a modern complex up to the high European standards, which includes a mini-hotel, parking, cafe, and a grocery store.

The first private museum in Russia

The Rasputin Museum is the first private museum in Russia. It was created by the fellow villagers of Grigory Efimovich in 1990. Bit by bit, they collected things that reminded them of Rasputin: photos, personal items, and archives. The house in which Rasputin lived was not preserved, and the museum is built resembling an original building, in accordance with parents. The tour lasts about two hours, but it is completely imperceptible - the story is impressive.

What can be seen there

They will tell you that young Grigory Rasputin made a pilgrimage to the relics of St. Simeon of Verkhotursky in the Verkhotursky Monastery of St. Nicholas. It has long been believed that it was in this monastery that one could be cured of blood diseases. Rasputin stayed in the monastery for several months. Perhaps Grigory Efimovich studied the art of healing with the monastery elders. A historical fact is that, after years, Rasputin could stop tsar heir's bleeding, when he was diagnosed with hemophilia. Among the exhibits of the museum in this honorable place is the icon of the holy righteous Simeon, the Verkhotursky miracle worker.

The fate of Rasputin is closely connected with the tragic fate of the last Russian emperor and his family. Rasputin was highly respected by Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna as he knew how to stop the bleeding of the heir to the throne. Additionally, he dissuaded the tsar from participating in the war in 1912.  But, another Rasputin's prophecy is well known to everyone: “I’ll be killed before the end of this year. My death will be violent, painful, as well as yours. But if I’ll be killed by common men, do not be afraid. Your dynasty has stood and will stand, and the prince will also rule Russia. If I am killed by people equal to you, your dynasty will not live for more than two years, it will be cut out under the root. And long after that, blood will be poured in Russia..." So, it happened.

Rasputin often repeated to the tsar: "You will visit my homeland, but unfortunately already without me. You will visit there, by your will or not". When the family of the last emperor was transported from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg, under the escort of 30 armed horsemen on the way to the village of Pokrovskoye, it was necessary to change horses. The emperor writes in his diary: "There was a crossroad in the village of Pokrovskoye, we stood for a long time just against Grigory’s house and saw his whole family looking out of the window." Now a memorial stone is installed in this place.

Rasputin's chair provides a strength

One of the most praised exhibits is a chair that Rasputin once presented to some fellow countrymen for a wedding. At the time, he said something like this: “Today you are young and strong. And my chair will serve you just for a while. But years will pass, your strength will begin to change, and then you just need to remember me. You should sit on this chair with the thought of me, and as you sit on it, your strength will return." 

In general, almost all visitors now sit on this chair. But there is only one condition - one must think neither about money, nor about a career, but about Rasputin. They say it works. The governor of the Tyumen Region, Sergey Sobyanin, once sat on this chair and soon became the Mayor of Moscow.  

There are predictions of Grigory Efimovich regarding the modern world and its future. The museum has a lot of other impressive exhibits. However, it is better to know and see them by visiting the homeland of Rasputin in Pokrovskoye. While there, do not forget to sit on the famous Rasputin chair, and rethink everything that you heard and learned about him.