At some point he became interested in the power of the Russian Orthodox Church. He joined a questionable order called The Skopsty. This group saw sinning as the only path to true redemption, and purposefully sinned so they could repent and be forgiven by The Lord. 

Not surprisingly, Rasputin founds this tack attractive, became a monk, and traveled the country. At some point in his travels, he became known for his charisma, vigor, and ability to heal the sick. He attracted the attention of the nobility, and then the Royal family. 

Nicholas  I and his wife Alexandra were the proud parents of four daughters, but were anxious to produce a male heir. At this time, Alexandra begins to rely on faith healers, monks, and mystics.
When she became pregnant, she continued to consult mystics and pray fervently. The boy was named Alexis, and was the joy of the Romanov family. However, it became immediately apparent that there was something wrong with the little boy. He was diagnosed with Hemophilia, and this became the focus of the Czarina's life. She became more devoted to mysticism, opening the door for a man like Rasputin.

Mysteriously, he was able to assuage Alexis' pain. He was able to stop the bleeding after an incident, and get him back to health. No one is entirely certain how or why this happened, but because of his ability to help Alexis, he became invaluable to Alexandra. His presence in the royal court aroused suspicion. His reputation preceded him, and he added to his cache as a rake by spreading rumors about his dalliances with the women of the court, insinuating that he had contacts with the four Romanov Czarinas. 

As the Royal family had taken great pains to conceal Alexis' infirmity from the public, people knew of no valid reason for the corrupt monk's presence, and assumed the worst. Finally, his influence over the Czar and Czarina had become too strong, his actions, too repulsive, and his attitude so offensive that other members of the Romanov family arranged to have Rasputin assassinated. In December 1916, he was murdered. It is notable that it was nearly impossible to kill the man. He was poisoned, stabbed, shot, and finally drowned before he expired. When his body was pulled from the River Neva, it was evident that it took some time for him to drown, as he had struggled against his bonds, and his lungs were full of water!