Hermogenes was a prominent Russian Orthodox religious figure and a monarchist with extreme right ideas, supporting the Union of the Russian People and Black Hundreds. In 1917, he was appointed as Hermogenes, Bishop of Tobolsk and Siberia. Hieromonk Iliodor (Sergei Trufanov) was a lapsed hieromonk, a charismatic churchman, an enfant terrible of the Orthodox church, and panslavist. He is known primarily for his book, semi-autobiographical, and biographical on Rasputin. In this work, he was supported by Maxim Gorky, who hoped that Trufanoff’s story on Rasputin would discredit the Tsar’s family and eventually contribute to the revolutionary propaganda.
In December 1911, Hermogenes and Iliodor came into conflict with Rasputin, who had almost free access to the Imperial family. Hermogen started rumors that Rasputin had joined the Khlysty, an obscure Christian sect with strong Siberian roots. After having been beaten by Hermogen with a crucifix, in a monastery on Vasilyevsky Island, Rasputin complained to the Imperial couple. Within a few weeks, Empress of Russia Alexandra ordered Hermogenes to be banished to a monastery. In Summer 1914, after an attack on Rasputin by Khioniya Kozmishna Guseva, Iliodor Iliodor went into exil. Rasputin believed Iliodor and Vladimir Dzhunkovsky had organized the attack. Gusseva, a fanatically religious woman, had been his adherent in earlier years and “denied Iliodor’s participation, declaring that she attempted to kill Rasputin because he was spreading temptation among the innocent”. (Photo credit: Colorized by Klimbim / Russian Archives). Notify me of new posts by email.
Δ Subscribe
