Baba Vanga

Vangeliya Pandeva Gushterova (née Dimitrova; Bulgarian: Вангелия Пандева Гущерова née Димитровa; 3 October 1911 – 11 August 1996), commonly known as Baba Vanga (Bulgarian: Баба Ванга; transl. Grandmother Vanga), was a blind Bulgarian mystic, clairvoyant, and herbalist, who spent most of her life in the Rupite area in the Kozhuh mountains in Bulgaria.[2][3][4] Zheni Kostadinova claimed in 1997 that millions of people believed she possessed paranormal abilities.[5]

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Pandeva and the family name is Gushterova.

Vanga
Born	Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova (1911-01-31)31 January 1911 Ustrumca, Ottoman Empire (present day Strumica, North Macedonia)
Died	11 August 1996(1996-08-11) (aged 84) Sofia, Bulgaria[1]
Nationality	Bulgarian
Other names	Grandma Vanga
Occupation	Clairvoyant and healer
Spouse(s)	Dimitar Gushterov ​ ( m. 1942; died 1962)

Life

Vanga was born in 1911 to Pando and Paraskeva (Surcheva) Surchevi in Strumica, then in the Ottoman Empire, but in 1912 the city was ceded to Bulgaria. She was a premature baby who suffered from health complications. In accordance with local tradition, the baby was not given a name until it was deemed likely to survive. When the baby first cried out, a midwife went into the street and asked a stranger for a name. The stranger proposed Andromaha (Andromache), but this was rejected for being "too Greek" during a period of anti-Hellenic sentiment within Bulgarian Macedonian society. Another stranger's proposal was a Greek name, but since she was Bulgarian: Vangelia (from Evangelos).[note 1][6]

In her childhood, Vangelia was an ordinary child with brown eyes and blonde hair. Her father was an Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization activist, conscripted into the Bulgarian Army during World War I, and her mother died soon after. This left Vanga dependent on the care and charity of neighbours and close family friends for much of her youth. After the war, Strumica was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (i.e. Yugoslavia). Yugoslav authorities arrested her father because of his pro-Bulgarian activity. They confiscated all his property and the family fell into poverty for many years.[7] Vanga was considered intelligent for her age. Her inclinations started to show up when she herself thought out games and loved playing "healing" – she prescribed some herbs to her friends, who pretended to be ill. Her father, being a widower, eventually remarried, thus providing a stepmother to his daughter.

According to her own testimony, a turning point in her life occurred when a 'tornado' allegedly lifted her into the air and threw her in a nearby field. She was found after a long search. Witnesses described her as very frightened, and her eyes were covered with sand and dust, she was unable to open them because of the pain. There was money only for a partial operation to heal the injuries she had sustained.[8] This resulted in a gradual loss of sight.

In 1925 Vanga was brought to a school for the blind in the city of Zemun, in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, where she spent three years, and was taught to read Braille, play the piano, as well as do knitting, cooking, and cleaning.[9] After the death of her stepmother she had to go back home to take care of her younger siblings. Her family was very poor, and she had to work all day.

In 1939 Vanga contracted pleurisy, although it remained largely inactive for some years. The doctor's opinion was that she would die soon, but she quickly recovered.

The house of Vanga in Petrich

Vanga's last house (built in 1970) in Rupite, Petrich

During World War II, Yugoslavia was invaded and dismembered by the Axis powers and Strumica was annexed by Bulgaria. At that time Vanga attracted believers in her ability to heal and soothsay – a number of people visited her, hoping to get a hint about whether their relatives were alive, or seeking for the place where they died. On 8 April 1942 the Bulgarian tzar Boris III visited her.[10]

On 10 May 1942, Vanga married Dimitar Gushterov, a Bulgarian soldier from the village of Krandzhilitsa near Petrich, who had come asking for the killers of his brother, but had to promise her not to seek revenge. Shortly before marriage, Dimitar and Vanga moved to Petrich, where she soon became well-known. Dimitar was then conscripted in the Bulgarian Army and had to spend some time in Northern Greece, which was annexed by Bulgaria at the time. He got another illness in 1947, fell into alcoholism, and eventually died on 1 April 1962.[11]

She continued to be visited by dignitaries and commoners. After the Second World War, Bulgarian politicians and leaders from different Soviet Republics, including Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev, sought her counsel;[12] in the 1990s, a church was built in Rupite by Bogdan Tomalevski with money left by her visitors.[12] Vanga died on 11 August 1996 from breast cancer.[13][14][15] Her funeral attracted large crowds, including many dignitaries.[16]

Fulfilling Vanga's last will and testament, her Petrich house was turned into a museum, which opened its doors for visitors on 5 May 2008.[17]

Work

St Petka of Bulgaria, Baba Vanga's church and grave.

Vanga was semi-literate in Bulgarian; she could read some Braille in Serbian, as she learned in Zemun. She did not write any books herself. What she said or allegedly said had been captured by staff members. Later, numerous esoteric books on Vanga's life and predictions were written.

Sources such as The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal claim that she foretold the break-up of the Soviet Union, the Chernobyl disaster, the date of Stalin's death, the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk, the September 11 attacks, Topalov's victory in the world chess tournament, the tensions with North Korea.[18][19] On the other hand, Bulgarian sources say that the people who were close to her claim that she never prophesied about Kursk, World War III, or other subjects circulating the Internet, and that many of the myths about Vanga are simply not true.[20][21] Some evidence has also been presented that Baba Vanga did not make many of the predictions now attributed to her, but rather people frequently attribute new fake "prophecies" to her since her death, and the lack of a written record of her prophecies, makes any prediction attributed to her difficult to disprove.[22]

In early August 1976, Yugoslav actress and singer Silvana Armenulić was on tour in Bulgaria and decided to meet with Baba Vanga. Vanga only sat and stared out a window with her back to Silvana, never speaking to her. After a long time, Vanga finally spoke: "Nothing. You do not have to pay. I do not want to speak with you. Not now. Go and come back in three months." As Silvana turned around and walked towards the door, Vanga said: "Wait. In fact, you will not be able to come. Go, go. If you can come back in three months, do so."[23] Silvana took this as confirmation that she would die and left Vanga's home in tears.[24] Armenulić died two months later, 10 October 1976, in a car crash with her sister Mirjana.[25]

Vanga incorrectly predicted that the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final would be played between "two teams beginning with B". One finalist was Brazil, but Bulgaria was eliminated by Italy in the semifinals.[26] According to The National, Vanga predicted that World War III would start in November 2010 and last until October 2014.[27]

Baba Vanga also predicted the existence of extraterrestrial djinns. Vanga purportedly predicted another "realm of being", claiming that entire cultures would begin to spread through a "false world". She claimed that in 2003, any person would be able to think in synchronicity with others, allowing for a form of secondary existence.

Followers of Vanga believe that she predicted the precise date of her own death,[21] dreaming that she would die on 11 August, and be buried on 13 August. Shortly before that she had said that a ten-year-old blind girl living in France was to inherit her gift, and that people would soon hear about her.[28]

Another prediction attributed to her is that the 44th President of the United States would be the country's last Commander-in-chief.[28][29][30][31] It has also been claimed that Vanga correctly predicted the 44th President would be African-American.[32] Vanga's supporters also claimed that she predicted the 45th president will be with a "messianic personality", who will be faced with a crisis that eventually "brings the country down".[33][34][35]

Studies

An attempt was made in 2011 to systematically summarize the existing knowledge about Vanga in the documentary Vanga: The Visible and Invisible World.[20][36] The movie includes interviews with some of the people who met Vanga in person, including Sergey Medvedev (press secretary to the then President of Russia Boris Yeltsin in 1995–96; who visited as Yeltsin's envoy), Neshka Robeva (Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and coach), Sergey Mikhalkov (Soviet and Russian writer, author of the Soviet Union anthem), Nevena Tosheva (director of the first documentary about Vanga), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (Kalmyk multi-millionaire businessman and politician). According to the documentary, Baba Vanga predicted Yeltsin's second electoral victory in 1995, and warned him about his heart condition.

Several researchers have studied the phenomenon of Vanga in the attempt to establish whether she has any extraordinary capabilities. One of the first studies was initiated by the Bulgarian government and is described in the 1977 movie Fenomen[37] directed by Nevena Tosheva. Bulgarian psychiatrists Nicola Shipkovensky and Georgi Lozanov also studied the capabilities of Vanga. According to Jeffrey Mishlove, some of the studies concluded that about 80% of predictions of Vanga turned out to be accurate.[38]

In popular culture

Vangelia, a 24-episode biographical TV series with elements of mysticism, was commissioned in 2013 by Channel One Russia.[39]

English gothic metal band Paradise Lost used a photo of her for the cover art of their sixth album One Second.

The supposed clairvoyant's predictions, political speculations with them, and their criticism continue to appear in the mass media in different countries and in different languages.[12][40][41][42][43][44][45]

Her image is popular in Southeastern Europe (the Balkans) and in Eastern Europe, especially Russia. Russian publications related to the mysterious prophetess are numerous. "The Great Encyclopedia of Vanga" is a Russian online project, dedicated to her.[46]

See also

• Djuna
• Edgar Cayce
• Doomsday
• Nostradamus

References

1. NOTES FROM HISTORY: Baba Vanga
2. The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal: Abductions, Apparitions, ESP, Synchronicity, and More Unexplained Phenomena from Other Realms, Judith Joyce, Weiser Books, 2011, ISBN 1609252985, pp. 21-25.
3. The History of Bulgaria, The Greenwood histories of the modern nations, Frederick B. Chary, ABC-CLIO, 2011, ISBN 0313384460, pp. 145-146.
4. In Search of Destiny: The Universe and Man, Robert A. Welcome, AuthorHouse, 2012, ISBN 147723747X, pp. 35-36.
5. Прoрoчeствaтa нa Вaнгa. Жeни Кoстaдинoвa, Издателство Труд, ISBN 954-528-074-3,Страници 696.
6. Честотно-тълковен речник на личните имена у българите, Николай П. Ковачев, Държавно издателство "Д-р Петър Берон", 1987 г. стр. 58. Dictionary of Personal Names of the Bulgarians, Nikolai P. Kovatchev State Publishing House "Dr Petar Beron", 1987, p 58. (Bg.)
7. Стоянова, Красимира. Ванга ясновидящая. София, "Вариант", "Два слона", 1991. ISBN 5808600316. с. 30.
8. The truth about Vanga, p. 42
9. The truth about Vanga, pp. 43-44
10. Joyce, Judith (2010). The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal: Abductions, Apparitions. Weiser Books.
11. The truth about Vanga, pp. 61-65, 69-70, 80-81
12. Stephen Kinzer, "Rupite Journal; For a Revered Mystic, a Shrine Now of Her Own", "The New York Times", April 5, 1995. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
13. The Greenwood encyclopedia of women's issues worldwide, Volume 3, Author Lynn Walter, Publisher Greenwood Press, 2003, p. 110.
14. The History of Bulgaria, The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, Author Frederick B. Chary, Publisher ABC-CLIO, 2011, ISBN 0313384479, p. 145.
15. Pilgrimage and Sacred Places in Southeast Europe: History, Religious Tourism and Contemporary Trends, Editors Mario Katic, Tomislav Klarin, Mike McDonald, Publisher LIT Verlag Münster, 2014, ISBN 3643905041, p. 85.
16. ru:Файл:Vanga's-Grave-Rupite.JPG
17. Prophetess Baba Vanga's Petrich house becomes museum, The Sofia Echo
18. Press Review, "Notes from History: Baba Vanga", by Lucy Cooper, Sofia Echo December 19, 2005
19. Joyce, Judith (2010). "Baba Vanga". The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal. San Francisco, CA: Red Wheel/Weiser. pp. 21–25. ISBN 978-1-57863-488-0. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
20. Ванга. Мир видимый и невидимый first aired 31 January 2011 on RTV on YouTube
21. Баба Ванга не е предсказвала края на света
22. "Non, la «voyante» bulgare Baba Vanga n’a pas prédit une guerre mondiale en 2016". Metro, November 15, 2016.
23. "Srpski Nišvil". Vreme. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
24. "Silvana Armenulic - Biografija". Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved 2016-01-05.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
25. "Srpski Nišvil". Nedeljnik Vreme. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
26. Stephen Kinzer: "Rupite Journal; For a Revered Mystic, a Shrine Now of Her Own", The New York Times, April 5, 1995.
27. McLain, Sean (January 1, 2011). "The year that wasn't: failed predictions of 2010". The National.
28. "Baba Vanga: Who is the blind mystic who 'predicted the rise of Isis'?". The Independent. 8 December 2015.
29. Pascaline, Mary. Will Trump Be President? 'Nostradamus From The Balkans' Baba Vanga Said Obama Will Be Last US Chief International Business Times. December 30, 2016.
30. Mack, Eric. 7 Dumb Predictions For 2016 That Didn't Happen Forbes. December 31, 2016.
32. Fair warning: Bulgarian prophet predicted Obama would be last U.S. president
33. Donovan, Francesca. Blind Mystic Baba Vanga Made Scary WW3 Prediction UNILAD. April 20, 2017.
34. Willis, Amy. Baba Vanga was right about Trump. But will the 45th president be ‘peacemaker’? Metro UK. January 20, 2017.
35. Dawson, James. Psychic Baba Vanga Had Some Pretty Grim Stuff To Say About World War III LADbible. April 21, 2017.
36. "Зачем Ванга звала к себе Бориса Ельцина?". Комсомольская правда. 27 Jan 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
37. "Fenomenat". IMDB. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
38. Mishlove, Jeffrey (1975). "Psionics". The Roots of Consciousness. Random House. ISBN 0-394-73115-8. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
39. Vangelia on the official site of Favorite Film. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
40. Зорница Стоилова, "Защо се върна Ванга", Bulgarian weekly business newspaper "Capital", April 4, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
41. "Regarding Vanga and "Vangelia" Archived 2016-01-11 at the Wayback Machine, talk show of the Bulgarian National Television about the Russian TV series, March 19, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
42. Documentary "Baba Vangja, the last Macedonian prophet", shot by the Macedonian "Kanal 5", August 23, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
43. "The secrets of Baba Vanga's predictions", Croatian daily newspaper "24sata", November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
44. "You'll marry a man in white", prediction about Lepa Brena's marriage, Serbian online media "Telegraf", December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
45. "Global media on Baba Vanga. Bulgarian prophetess predicted the emergence of the Islamic State?", Serbian tabloid newspaper "Blic", December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
46. "The Great Encyclopedia of Vanga". Retrieved December 11, 2015.

Footnotes

1. According to Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, At the beginning of the 20th century Bulgarians constituted the majority of the population in the region of Macedonia. They are described in the encyclopaedia as "Slavs, the bulk of which is regarded by almost all independent sources as Bulgarians": 1,150,000, whereof, 1,000,000 Orthodox and 150,000 Muslims (the so-called Pomaks); Turks: ca. 500,000 (Muslims); Greeks: ca. 250,000, whereof ca. 240,000 Orthodox and 14,000 Muslims; Albanians: ca. 120,000, whereof 10,000 Orthodox and 110,000 Muslims; Vlachs: ca. 90,000 Orthodox and 3,000 Muslims; Jews: ca. 75,000; Roma: ca. 50,000, whereof 35,000 Orthodox and 15,000 Muslims; In total 1,300,000 Christians (almost exclusively Orthodox), 800,000 Muslims, 75,000 Jews, a total population of ca. 2,200,000 for the whole of Macedonia.

Sources

• Стоянова [Stoyanova], Красимира [Krasimira] (1996). Истината за Ванга [The truth about Vanga] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Balgarski Pisatel. ISBN 954-443-170-5.
• Ostrander, Sheila; Schroeder, Lynn (1970). "Vanga Dimitrova: The Bulgarian Oracle". Psychic discoveries behind the Iron Curtain. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. pp. 259–281. ISBN 978-0-13-732230-5.
• Valtchinova, Galia (2005). "Vanga, la "Pythie bulgare": idées et usages de l'Antiquité en Bulgarie socialiste". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne (in French). 31 (1): 93–127. doi:10.3406/dha.2005.2487. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
• Ivanov, Petko; Izmirlieva, Valentina (2003). "Betwixt and Between: The Cult of Living Saints in Contemporary Bulgaria". Folklorica, Journal of the Slavic and East European. 8 (1): 33–53. Retrieved 1 January 2011.

External links

• Stephen Kinzer: Rupite Journal; For a Revered Mystic, a Shrine Now of Her Own in The New York Times, April 5, 1995
• An article by Natalia Baltzun, translated by Kristina Hristova (Bulgaria) (in Russian)
• Vanga's Prophecies: Product of the Bulgarian Secret Services (in Russian)