Disputes about who the great prophetess Vanga was did not subside after her centenary. Some of her fans are seeking canonization. On the contrary, some church hierarchs consider her a witch. But, interestingly, even they recognize her gift. I had to be in Bulgaria, I talked with Vanga’s relatives and close acquaintances. They said that Vanga regularly went to church, received communion and confession, and sent donations to monasteries. She called herself a “great sinner.”
Time will judge. It is clear to me that she was a great person; the mechanism of her gift has not yet been solved by scientists. I am posting my article about Vanga, which was published in Life in September. This is a complete option. Vanga’s photo was given to me by her niece Krasimira. In color - Vanga in the Rozhen Monastery in 1992. In black and white - Vanga with relatives at the church in the Rila Monastery in 1970.

"The Church declared Vanga a witch

The Bulgarian Metropolitan Nicholas called the great prophetess a witch, and her gift - devilish.

43-year-old Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv, one of the most authoritative theologians, a graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy, in his archpastoral message to the believers, declared the world-famous prophetess a witch.

This was done in response to appeals from Vanga’s fellow countrymen and the bishop’s vicar in Petrich, Angel Kochev, to the Patriarchate with a request for the canonization of Vangelia Pandeva-Gushcherova.

During the life of the great prophetess, the Bulgarian church considered Vanga its faithful child. She regularly visited monasteries, made large donations to them, confessed, and received communion. Even the temple built by Vanga in Rupite, which the church considered non-canonical in form and paintings, was nevertheless consecrated during her lifetime, in 1994.

Vanga was also buried in a Christian manner - several priests performed the funeral service, and a cross was placed on the grave. Why is it now, 16 years after his death, that the church is waging a massive attack on Vanga? The fact is that the popularity of the prophetess did not melt away after her death, but grew, becoming overgrown with legends. And on the eve of the end of the world promised by the Mayan calendar in 2012, the veneration of the blind prophetess turns into hysteria. And Vanga’s foundation, created in Bulgaria during her lifetime, turned, according to the church, into an occult organization.

The attack on Vanga began in the year of her centenary. First, a book by Hieromonk Vissarion from the Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos was presented in Sofia. He called her loudly and sharply: “Vanga is a portrait modern witch" In the Russian edition, the word “witch” was softened, replacing it with the softer “sorceress”. The book, written as a scientific study, was initially certified by the church as the personal opinion of a theologian.

The book caused a storm - Vanga is revered in Bulgaria, there are several hundred of her godchildren there, and there are tens of thousands of people healed by this woman or those whom she helped with advice.

I happened to be in Bulgaria, I met Vanga’s relatives, neighbors and friends. People come to her grave in Rupite as if to a saint - with their prayers and requests. They say that they are being fulfilled - Vanga’s admirers are chronicling posthumous miracles. Recently, national television conducted a survey, according to the results of which Vanga was named among the most popular personalities. She is a Bulgarian brand. And suddenly a theologian from Athos declared her a witch! Indignant letters poured into the Patriarchate. People called Vanga a saint and asked to be canonized.

Metropolitan

The Church responded firmly and harshly - through the mouth of Metropolitan Nicholas of Plovdiv. He is considered a bishop close to the Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim; it is no coincidence that the archpastoral message of Bishop Nicholas regarding Vanga is placed in the section of the official documents of the patriarchate. It was no longer a “test balloon”, like Vissarion’s book, but a shot from a large-caliber gun. Here are excerpts from the message of Metropolitan Nicholas:

“With regret I must say that the so-called “Vanga phenomenon” is becoming more dangerous and alarming, because Vanga and her followers have always acted and continue to act under the guise of the church. Vanga, under the guise of a pious Orthodox Christian, blasphemed the church, calling church canons “TV shows”... Not a single prophet of God dared to summon the souls of the dead, this is pure witchcraft, and Vanga did this hundreds of times throughout her life.”

Metropolitan Nicholas, in his message, accused Vanga of “robbing people, taking money and gifts for her services, involving people in her occult activities, forcing them to sleep on sugar.” (Let me remind you that Vanga asked each visitor to bring her a piece of refined sugar, which was supposed to be kept under the pillow the day before - author)

Vanga, according to the Metropolitan, “did not humble herself before the church and its prelates, placing herself above the church.” The Metropolitan, referring to the Holy Scriptures, compares the seer with the pagans and idolaters who have not repented. He states that “people who consider Vanga their idol persist in their delusion and separate themselves from the church.”

Vladyka Nicholas harshly issues an ultimatum to his flock: “Either abandon Vanga as an enemy, or take her as a prophet and saint, abandoning the Church.”

The next step of the church in the fight against the phenomenon and cult of the great prophetess may be to excommunicate her from the church. The message of Metropolitan Nicholas and the work of Hieromonk Vissarion are very similar to the theological justification for the need for extreme measures.

Vissarion

Hieromonk Vissarion, who in his youth before taking orders was himself fond of occult teachings, investigated the Vanga phenomenon with the meticulousness of an Inquisition investigator. It seems that if there was an opportunity, he would interrogate the prophetess herself with passion. But you can’t raise Vanga from the grave, you can’t call him back from the other world, and Vissarion used the memories of people who knew Vanga closely, documentaries, and interview recordings. After analyzing the words and actions of the seer, the Athonite theologian came to the conclusion that she really had the gift of prophecy, but not from God.

It was not easy for me to work on this topic, to delve into this poison for eight months,” says Vissarion. - It is enough to look at the forces with which Vanga communicated to understand that they are dark. There is much evidence that evil spirits tormented Vanga. They forced her to sweep away cobwebs at night, then undress and put on her clothes again. When Vanga tried to resist, they pushed her down the stairs, breaking her leg. Vanga fell into a trance under the influence of spirits who used her body as a soulless thing and forced her to speak in someone else's voice. Fan of Vanga Velichka Angelova describes the moment when she growled like a dog and threatened others. In fact, Vanga is an unhappy woman, tormented evil forces. According to scripture, sorcerers who were engaged in summoning the dead, like Vanga, have a place not with God, but in hellfire.

The theologian Vissarion compared in detail the treatment used by the holy fathers with the healing of Vanga.

Vanga had many magical elements. Vanga advised someone suffering from neurosis to slaughter a rooster, take out the heart and put it in a bottle of wine, then eat it and wash it down with wine. Elder Paisios said that magicians treat people possessed by demons in this way, and whose illnesses were not due to natural factors, but due to dark forces. Because of her connection with demons, Vanga could “help,” but the souls of physically healed people turned out to be connected with demonic influence.

According to Vissarion, in order for the fruits of holiness to manifest themselves, a long period of purification is necessary, but Vanga did not have it at all:

In her youth, when she became blind and began to predict, according to her words, St. John Chrysostom appeared before her, who said that she would become the first fortune teller. This is a tragicomic moment - John Chrysostom always spoke of sorcerers as servants of the evil one. And Vanga, spiritually ignorant, took that lying demonic vision at face value. And in 1941 she begins to speak in a strange voice, as if possessed by a demon. She receives predictions from communication with demonic forces. They sometimes tell the truth, but only in order to subsequently deceive those who trust them. That is why we should not turn to fortune tellers - even if they say something true, a person’s soul will still be defiled by demonic influence. John Chrysostom advises us to be very careful, to hate sorcerers who call themselves Christians. I proved that Vanga is a witch who is very far from holiness.

In Petrich, where Vanga’s house stands, she is still revered as a saint. On the anniversary of his death, a memorial service was served at Vanga’s grave in Rupite. Priest Angel Kochev, who took the initiative to canonize Vanga, believes that he expressed the heartfelt desire of many people in Bulgaria. Unlike Hieromonk Vissarion, the author of the book casting the prophetess into hell, Kochev knew Vanga personally; since 1972, he regularly conducted the ritual of blessing of oil in her house.

Vanga was a martyr, with great joy I would agree that she be canonized, because this is not only my personal desire, but also that of many people in Bulgaria,” Father Angel outlined his position. – This right is granted to the Holy Synod of our Church. One of the conditions for the canonization of a saint is miracles. They were carried out during Vanga’s lifetime; she even helped the hopelessly ill. Isn't this a resurrection, isn't it a miracle when you bring a person back to life? So, God grant that visible signs appear after her death on her grave, where thousands of people come for help. There were skeptics who said that miracles would end after death, but they continue.

Vanga’s niece Krasimira Stoyanova told me in Bulgaria that Vanga is a witch and her gift is not from God. “They hurt my aunt the most...

According to relatives and people who knew Vanga closely, she really often spoke about voices that dictated prophecies to her. The seer seemed to be just a mouthpiece. But whose?

“Vanga was chosen by Heaven,” says Krasimira Stoyanova. “My aunt was a believer and a virtuous, highly moral and modest woman. She observed all the canons of the Orthodox faith, prayed a lot, and joyfully visited churches and monasteries. And she always and everywhere called people to believe in God! As for the church ministers, they then applied double standards towards Vanga. They did not officially recognize her, but priests, even metropolitans, came to my aunt and asked about their personal affairs. And she always told them the truth, even the hard-hitting one. She scolded them for the fact that their feuds led the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to a schism. (Now she has reunited again - author)

In Vanga’s house in Rupite, icons hang everywhere. On the wall is her favorite image of Saint Petka. In Russia they call her Paraskeva. Vanga’s mother bore the name of this great martyr. And the church that Vanga built with her own money was also consecrated in honor of Saint Petka. This temple was the dream of her whole life.

“In the fall of 1991, Vanga began to build a church at her own expense,” recalls Krasimira Stoyanova. “She chose the location and laid the foundation. But the people from the Vanga Foundation, who were then hovering around my aunt, ordered the temple to be moved to another place. They built a structure that the locals called the “Masonic Temple.” The countrymen did not destroy it only out of respect for Vanga - they brought their icons there so that at least something would be according to the canons. I regard this temple as a mockery of Aunt Vanga’s dream. She wanted to build a church for people, but a real one...

Metropolitan Nathanael of Nevrokop, who knew Vanga closely (it was he who consecrated the altar in the church built in Rupite), came to Vanga’s house shortly before her death. He quietly entered the patient’s room with a reliquary, in which there was a particle of the Holy Cross. There were a lot of people around, blind Vanga suddenly spoke in a low, hoarse voice: “Someone came here. Let him throw it on the floor immediately! He's holding it in his hands! It's stopping me from speaking! Because of this, I can’t see anything!” Vladyka left without saying a single bad word to Vanga. And now, in response to questions about her, he answers:

Pray for her soul!

The 97-year-old Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Maxim, refrains from participating in the theological debate about Vanga. His position is wise: “Time will judge!”

Temple of Light Petka Bulgarska.

The Temple of “Sveta Petka Bulgarska” was built in 1994, according to the design of Vanga’s friend, architect Svetelin Rusev, as well as through the labors and efforts of Vanga herself, in the village of Rupite, where she was born, lived and prophesied. And to the right of the temple is the grave of Vanga, who bequeathed to bury herself here, next to the temple.

The temple was built with Vanga’s own money, as well as with funds from sponsors and citizens from Bulgaria and other countries.

At the request and instructions of Vanga, an unusual painting of the church completed Svetelin Rusev, wood carving - Grigor Paunov, and made the iconostasis, sculptures and cross Krum Damyanov. All of them, including the team of masons and Vanga’s volunteer assistants, worked on the construction of the temple for free.

The reason for the refusal of local clergy to consecrate the temple.

To the article, the temple “Sveta Petka Bulgarska”.

The unusual painting of the temple in Rupite, different from the established church canons, was the reason for a sharply negative reaction from some Bulgarian clergy, who categorically refused to consecrate the temple built by Vanga.

And this decision of the Bulgarian clergy, after the death of Vanga, provoked a PR campaign in the media to demonize the image of the deceased Vanga.

Meanwhile, according to existing popular belief, people are obliged to treat the dead with respect. “About the dead it’s either good, or nothing, or just the truth” - reads folk wisdom. They say that the soul of a person who has violated this commandment does not find a place in his life after death. world of the dead, to whom during his lifetime this man showed disrespect.

The crafty decision of the Bulgarian clergy not to consecrate Vanga’s temple had a completely different background. In her book “Vanga,” Vanga’s niece Krasimira Stoyanova writes that the conflict between the seer and local priests existed for a long time. And the Bulgarian clergy, who during their lifetime were afraid to object to the prophetess who saw them inner essence through and through, they found a way to take revenge on Vanga shortly before her death. Here is what Krasimira Stoyanova writes: “Vanga was chosen by Heaven. My aunt was a believer and a virtuous, highly moral and modest woman. She observed all the canons of the Orthodox faith, prayed a lot, and joyfully visited churches and monasteries. And she always and everywhere called people to believe in God! As for the church ministers, they already applied double standards towards Vanga. They did not officially recognize her, but priests, even metropolitans, came to my aunt and asked about their personal affairs. And she always told them the truth, even the hard-hitting one.”

Vanga never did evil to people and taught them to do only good. And I was not able to find a single piece of evidence, even among her enemies, that Vanga caused harm to even one person. This is what her goddaughter Venetta Sharova says about Vanga.

Testimony from Vanga's goddaughter Venetta Sharova.

“Aunt Vanga was like a mother to me. At the age of 16, like many others, I came to see her. I'm standing in the corridor, waiting. She came out and pointed at me - come in. That's how we met...

At first they were just friends, and then I started helping her with housework and was there until the last day. She always taught me: don’t get angry, if someone does you harm, leave him. Let him be responsible for all his mistakes. And no matter what happens, always do good. She not only told people about their illnesses, about whether the problems would be resolved, but also taught to love, to be humble.

The temple in Rupite is Vanga’s long-time dream.

Vanga dreamed all her life of building a temple in Rupite, but poverty got in the way. She always received visitors for free, and only in 1967, by decree of the Bulgarian government, a visit to the Bulgarian prophetess became paid. For citizens from socialist republics, the visit cost 122 rubles, and for visitors from capitalist countries - 50 dollars. And only after this did Vanga have the opportunity to earn money to build a temple in Rupite.

Here's what Venetta Sharova writes about it: « Vanga dreamed of building a temple in the village of Rupite, where we lived. I was worried that I wouldn’t make it in time. She built it with her earnings, and so that there was money, she accepted without interruption, day and night. Sometimes it starts at nine in the morning and ends after midnight. In case of emergency, she could work all night. When construction of the temple began in August 1992, Aunt Vanga was so happy! She commanded the construction, told the workers what to do and how to do it.

When the dome was being installed, she sat on her favorite bench opposite the temple, bowed her head first to the left, then to the right and asked to put the dome “a little in the other direction so that it would stand straight.” “How do you see all this?” - the builders asked her. And my aunt answered: “I don’t need eyes.”

For example, after construction was completed, the Bulgarian artist Svetlin Rusev began to paint the faces of saints for interior decoration temple. Every evening his aunt asked him what he had done that day and what he would do tomorrow. The only portrait of Vanga in this temple, Rusev also drew according to her instructions. She often repeated that the temple became a second home for her. Before the reception, people went there, brought flowers, lit candles.

When my aunt got sick, I was near her all the time, she knew that she was going to die, and she kept repeating: “I’m leaving.” In recent months, Vanga did not get out of bed, I looked after her. And when it became clear that I could not give her the care she needed, she was taken to the Sofia Hospital. A few days after my aunt passed away, her body was brought to the temple. I remember I touched her hands and felt the warmth. And on the night of the funeral, Vanga came to me in a dream. She came out of the coffin, holding her hair in her hands, and for some reason said: “You burned my hair!”

For me she is still alive. When I feel like I’m missing her, I come to the grave, talk to her, and the melancholy gives way to lightness.”

Symbolism of the temple.

The mournful symbolism of the Vanga temple painting does not contradict any Christian values, and, apparently, is just her own vision of future events associated with the coming “end of the world.” But this requires some further explanation.

Christian doctrine is a cosmic religion, and the iconostasis of any church is just a multifaceted symbolism of Noah’s flood and the upcoming “end of the world,” which Vanga, who had the gift of clairvoyance, undoubtedly knew about.

In my book “The Fifth Dimension,” I already wrote that every year, together with her loved ones, Vanga celebrated the day when a cosmic catastrophe and a volcanic eruption occurred in Rupite, during which many local residents died.

Let's remember this quote from Krasimira Stoyanova's book: "Annually,October 15, when church calendar Peter's Day is listed , Vanga is gathering guests. Neighbors, friends, acquaintances are sitting at a modest meal. The meal is quiet, without libations and solemn speeches. ...

Here's what Vanga said: " On the same day, a thousand years ago, a strong volcanic eruption occurred here. Lava flows flooded a large and rich city, thousands of people died in the fire .

And the people who lived here were tall and stately, very beautiful, dressed in white clothes with a metallic sheen. The city had theaters and libraries; its citizens valued enlightenment more than other benefits, deeply revered wisdom, and felt themselves on an equal footing even with kings. A blue river flowed through the city; it carried its waters along a bottom covered with golden sand. Newborns were baptized in this river, and the children grew healthy, gradually turning into young people, strong in body and healthy in spirit...The main city gates were decoratedgolden-winged griffins - patrons of the city . Nearby stood three large temples: Saint Petka, Holy Mother of God And Saint Panteleimon. The earth's hot abysses breathe even now, their breath is warmed mineral water. Listen, you will certainly hear sighs for a long time dead people. And so I dare to ask you, my guests:While we are alive, we will remember with quiet prayer all those who died so suddenly, in the color and grandeur of a joyful earthly life. Should they have died? And isn’t there a deep prophetic meaning hidden here?” …

The prophetic meaning was hidden by Vanga in the secret symbolism of the temple she built. After all October 15 noted not only Peter's Day(from Greek Peter - (heavenly) stone). On the eve of this day, the Bulgarian Church and the Balkan countries celebrate the feast of St. Paraskeva (Holy Friday, or the feast of Sveta Petka). Therefore, we are obliged to say a few words about this holiday.

Sveta Petka Bulgarska.

The Feast of Light Petka Bulgarska, or Paraskeva of Serbia, is one of the most revered in the Balkans. This holiday has different countries there are other names: Paraskeva Friday, Tarnovskaya Friday, Bulgarian Friday, Moldavian Friday, or simply Sveta Petka - “Holy Friday”.

The memory of Paraskeva of Serbia is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on August 30 and October 14 (27). This is the eve of the feast of Paraskeva of Ionia, or Saint Paraskeva Friday (from the Greek.Παρασκευ - "holiday eve, Friday"), which is celebrated by the Orthodox Church October 15 (28).

The holiday of Paraskeva Friday is celebrated in honor of the Orthodox saint, famous for her asceticism. And Vanga knew that at the same time This holiday is also a day of remembrance of the cosmic catastrophe. This should not be surprising, for Christianity is a cosmic religion, and I have already written about the fact that many iconic cosmic catastrophes in the church calendar are designated by the names of Christian saints.

Location Rupite.

The village of Rupite, surrounded by mountains, is located in the Petrichesko-Sandansky basin, on the site of the crater of the former Kozhukh volcano. It is believed that The crater is more than a thousand years old, but on its slopes there are still hot sulfur (up to +75 degrees Celsius) geothermal springs. Because of them, even in winter the temperature in Rupite is higher than in the surrounding villages. Thousands of people come to these healing springs every year.

Vanga has repeatedly said that in Rupite there is a center of powerful cosmic energy that gave her strength. And thanks to this energy, until her death she was engaged in healing the sick, and also served as a consolation and prophetess for visitors who turned to her.

But she always carefully avoided voicing bad prophecies, and it made no difference whether it concerned the life of an individual, a state, or the natural disasters of the Earth. Eyewitnesses from her close circle testify that before the consecration of the temple, Vanga was very afraid to go into a trance, so that in this uncontrolled state, she would accidentally, prematurely, reveal the secret of the strange symbolism of the temple and the purpose of its construction.

About the “navel of the Earth” in the vicinity of Rupite.

Crater in Rupite.

Patomsky crater.

In the book “The Fifth Dimension” I already wrote that in addition to the extinct volcano, there is another crater in Rupite, the so-called (“navel of the Earth”), which is a formation formed at the site of a cosmic electric discharge explosion. For a reason unknown to us, it was in such places that the ancient prophets and sibyls most clearly manifested the gift of prophecy. It is easy to understand that this crater was also connected the amazing phenomenon of Vanga’s clairvoyance, which was most clearly manifested in Rupite. For those who are not familiar with my previous books, I must inform you that the crater at Rupite is like two peas in a pod Patomsky crater, formed after an electric discharge explosion of a fragment of the Tunguska body. To verify this, it is enough to compare photographs of these craters.

The reason for the construction of the temple in Rupita.

This is what Krasimira Stoyanova writes about this place and the reason for the construction of the temple: “... I remember another story about those times. Vanga remembers that old people told us what their grandfathers had seenhuge pillar of fire on a hill". In their opinion, at this place, again during Turkish slavery, fifteen martyrs, defenders of the Christian faith, were slaughtered. There was a temple there thenSaint George the Victorious , but the Turks destroyed it to the ground. Vanga says that in 1941 a huge temple appeared to her, supported by fifteen holy officers. Who are they and where did they come from? When excavations were carried out later, columns of a former temple were discovered at this site.St. George. And then the citizens of Strumica built a large church, which they called “The Fifteen Holy Martyrs of Strumica.” But the opening of the churchSt. George ahead. Vanga herself still lives with the desire to open this temple, because she hears a “voice” that says:"Come and open the gates. They are iron and heavy, but behind them there is a bright light" . Feeling sorry for the people, Vanga did not want to prematurely reveal the secret reason for the construction of her temple. Therefore, we have a need to supplement our story.

The cross is a symbol of cosmic catastrophe.

Cross.

On the side of the basin opposite from the temple, according to Vanga’s wishes, there was a huge cross has been laid out, in the form of steps leading to its top. In religious mythology, the cross is a designation of the epicenter of a cosmic catastrophe, and one must assume that in this simple way, Vanga designated the epicenter of one of the cosmic explosions of a future cosmic catastrophe. And here we need to give a little more additional information. A great way to have fun at night is sex dating in Tyumen, which will surprise you with new and unforgettable sensations.

Prophecy of Seraphim of Sarov.

Feeling sorry for the psyche of people, Vanga avoided talking about the secrets associated with the “end of the world” and never named the date of this disaster. But in different years, while in a state of uncontrollable trance, she left several testimonies about this terrible disaster: « One day this world will end, but the end will not come soon. Do not be afraid! Live in harmony and help each other. Living in fear is not living. But what is written in heaven cannot be changed by man. Sooner or later it happens."

… “Earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes. Many people will die from this. There will be fighting on all sides. There will be no pets, trees will be destroyed, … . People will walk around naked and barefoot - there will be nothing to eat, no heating, no lighting.”

The famous Russian seer and saint, Elder Seraphim of Sarov, in one of his prophecies, said that when the time of difficult trials and chaos comes, the few survivors will find salvation in his Sarov monastery. In addition to this, it should be said that in the Christian faith, all monasteries and churches are dual-use objects, and during the upcoming “end of the world”, are intended to serve as islands of safety for people who miraculously survived the fire of a cosmic catastrophe. Drawing an obvious parallel, we can assume that the strange painting on the walls and the entrance to the Vanga temple depicts mourning people who will find shelter in the Vanga temple in the difficult days of the coming cosmic catastrophe. Apparently, Wang asked to depict the faces of these people on the walls of the temple in Rupite. That is, Vanga built her temple as another island of safety, giving people hope for salvation. So “What is surprising in your eyes?”

Temple.

During Vanga’s lifetime, thousands of tourists and pilgrims traveled to Bulgaria specifically to see Vanga. She tried to accept and comfort everyone who needed her help. Her amazing prophecies were never understood during her lifetime. And science has yet to study this strange world, in which the souls of the dead are able to tell us about the past and future of the world of the living. There are no lies or time frames in this world, and not everyone is given the opportunity to testify to it to people. And we should be grateful to Vanga, who took the trouble to tell us about it amazing world to people. After all, our information about this beyond the real, otherworldly knowledge is so small that we are forced to make it the measure of our faith and our monstrous obscurantism.

The question of the Church’s attitude towards the soothsayer Vanga still worries society. Who was she? From whom did you receive your gift? There are still people who call Vanga “saint”, “soothsayer”, “clairvoyant”, comparing her with the blessed Matrona of Moscow and not understanding why the church recognized Vanga as a witch. People ask: “Why? Isn't she a churchwoman? I went to church; built a temple - it was her life’s dream,” “What bad did this woman do who helped so many people?” etc. She said: “Go and be baptized!” – as if she had never been alien to the Church. This is where difficulties arise. On the one hand, she clearly declared that she belonged to the Church, and on the other, everything she did was completely contrary to the dogma of the Church. And this is another clear indication that it is becoming increasingly difficult for modern man to distinguish between spirits and adhere to the true teachings of Christ. This is the fruit of an atheistic upbringing and Christian illiteracy.

Vanga and the Church

Sometimes false information appears in the media that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church canonized Vanga. This statement is not true. Here is the official response to the site “Superstition.net”, received from Bulgaria... Continue reading →

Is Vanga a new “saint” for Russian TV viewers? There is a high interest in Vanga in Russia. In the spring of 2011, a film about her was released on NTV - with a rating comparable to the ratings of football matches. Now on Channel One in prime time, that is, at the most convenient time for viewing, the series “Vangelia,” dedicated to the Bulgarian soothsayer, has been running for the second week. Wherein main character She looks almost like a saint in the film: kind, meek, hardworking, sincerely pious. Continue reading →

In connection with the broadcast of the series “Vangelia” on Channel One, many people began to contact the editors of the Pravoslavie.Ru portal with questions about whether Vanga was an Orthodox Christian. The following materials clearly demonstrate that the Bulgarian soothsayer was in fact a sorceress and psychic, whose source of “inspiration” was demonic forces. Continue reading →

When the bishop arrived a few days later and entered the old woman’s room, he was holding in his hands a reliquary cross with a particle Holy Cross The Lord's. There were a lot of people in the room, Vanga was sitting in the back, saying something and could not hear that another person had quietly entered the door. In any case, she could not know who it was. Suddenly she interrupted and in a changed - low, hoarse - voice said with effort: “Someone came here. Let him throw THIS on the floor immediately!” "What is this"?" - the stunned people around asked Vanga. And then she broke into a frantic cry: “THIS! He holds THIS in his hands! THIS is stopping me from speaking! Because of THIS I can't see anything! I don’t want THIS in my house!” - the old woman screamed, kicking her legs and swaying. Continue reading →

Brief biography of Vanga (1911-1996)

Vangelia Pandeva Gushcherova (1911-1996), better known as Vanga, was born on January 31, 1911 in Strumnitsa (now Macedonia) in the family of a poor peasant. Vanga was only 3 years old when her mother Paraskeva died in 1914, at the birth of her second child. After the end of the First World War, around 1919, her father Pande Surchev married a second time, to Tank Georgieva, who became Vanga's stepmother. From Tanke he had three more children (Vasil, Tome and Lyubka). At the birth of his fourth child in 1928, Tanka, his second wife, also died.

When Vanga was 12 years old, in 1923, an event happened to her that changed her whole life. later life. When she, along with two cousins, was returning to the village from the field, a hurricane of terrible force lifted her into the air and carried her far into the field. They found it littered with branches and covered with sand. Due to sand getting into her eyes, she undergoes three unsuccessful eye surgeries, as a result of which Vanga completely loses her sight.

At the age of 14, Vanga was sent to the city of Zemun (Serbia) to the House of the Blind, where she spent three years of her life and studied the Broglie alphabet, music, and began to play the piano well. The girl is taught to knit, cook, and sew. At the age of 18, she is proposed to by a blind man named Dimitar, who also lives in the House of the Blind. His parents are rich, and the girl can expect a prosperous future. Vanga agrees, but at this time she receives news from her father about the death of Tanka’s stepmother. The father calls his daughter home, since her help is needed in caring for her young brothers and sister. The wedding with Dimitar is upset, and Vanga returns to her father, actively getting involved in everyday chores.

Knowing how to knit beautifully, Vanga takes home orders and does weaving. But the money earned is not enough to decent life, and the family lives in poverty.

Vanga's unusual abilities began to manifest themselves in April 1941, when she was 30 years old. She was visited by a "tall, fair-haired, mysterious horseman of divine beauty" who told her that he would be by her side and help her make predictions about the dead and the living. Soon after this, “another voice began to be heard from her lips, which named with amazing accuracy areas and events, the names of mobilized men who would return alive, or with whom some misfortune would happen...”. From that time on, Vanga began to often fall into a trance, receive more and more visitors, find lost people and things and talk to the “dead”.

In 1940, at the age of 54, Vanga’s father died. In May 1942, Vanga married, according to the categorical order of the “forces,” Dimitar Gushterov (despite the fact that he was then engaged to another woman). Family life Vangi was unhappy, she had no children, and 5 years after the wedding, her husband Dimitar became seriously ill (in 1947), began drinking very heavily and died in April 1962 at the age of 42.

In 1982, at the age of 71, Vanga moved to the area of ​​Rupite, surrounded by respect and great recognition from many people. Vanga received visitors almost until her death, at the age of 85 (she died of cancer on August 11, 1996). More than 15,000 people attended her funeral, including senior officials (presidents, ambassadors, diplomats, the entire cabinet of ministers, deputies and journalists). Such is the general outline the life of a world-famous soothsayer.

Vanga's grave

The emergence of the "gift"

In her youth, when Vanga became blind, according to her, John Chrysostom appeared before her, who said that she would become the first fortune teller (strange, because St. John Chrysostom always spoke of sorcerers as servants of the evil one). And much later, she became the owner of an unusual “gift”. Many people came to her every day. She could tell a person's past. Reveal details that even your loved ones didn’t know. She often made forecasts and predictions. People left very impressed.

Vanga’s visions began with her communication with a certain “horseman”. Here is how the niece describes one of these visions from Vanga’s words: “... He (the horseman) was tall, Russian-haired and divinely handsome. Dressed like an ancient warrior, in armor that shone in moonlight. His horse swung its white tail and dug the ground with its hooves. He stopped in front of the gate of Vanga’s house, jumped off his horse and entered a dark room. Such a radiance emanated from him that it became light inside, as if during the day. He turned to Vanga and spoke in a low voice: “Soon the world will turn upside down and many people will die. In this place you will stand and predict the dead and the living. Don't be afraid! I will be next to you and will say what you have to convey to them! Who was this horseman who appeared to Vanga?

The source of Vanga’s “gift”

According to relatives and those who knew Vanga, she spoke of voices that dictated prophecies. The Holy Scriptures and the Holy Fathers speak of two sources of the gift of prediction: from God and from demonic forces. There is no third. Who gave Vanga information about the invisible world? Where did this amazing awareness come from? This answer can be found in the book of Krasimira Stoyanova, Vanga’s niece.

K. Stoyanova reports various details about how Vanga communicated with the other world, with “spirits”:

Question: Do you talk to spirits?

Vanga: Many and very different people come. Some I can't understand. Not the ones who come and are near me now, I understand. One comes, knocks on my door and says: “This door is bad, change it!”

Question: Do you remember anything after you were in a trance?

Vanga: No. I remember almost nothing. After the trance I feel very bad all day.

Question: Godmother, why don’t you remember what is said during a trance?

Vanga: When they want to speak through me, I, like a spirit, leave my body and stand aside, and they come into me and speak, and I hear nothing.

It is enough to look at the forces with which Vanga communicated to understand that they are dark.

As Stoyanova wrote, according to Vanga herself, the creatures who communicate with her have some kind of hierarchy, because there are “bosses” who rarely come, only when it is necessary to report some extraordinary events or major disasters. Then Vanga’s face becomes pale, she faints, and a voice that has nothing in common with her voice begins to be heard from her mouth. It is very strong and has a completely different timbre. The words and sentences that come out of her mouth have nothing in common with the words that Vanga uses in her ordinary speech. It’s as if some alien mind, some alien consciousness is invading her in order to communicate through her lips about events fatal to people. Vanga called these creatures “ great strength"or "great spirit".

The description of the creatures with whom Vanga communicates very clearly reveals to us the world of celestial spirits of evil, exactly as it was described in Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers: the dark forces have a hierarchy; a person cannot control his mental and physical activities; “forces” arbitrarily come into contact with Vanga, completely disregarding her desires.

Other demons who gave Vanga predictions about the past and future of her visitors appeared under the guise of their deceased relatives. Vanga admitted: “When a person stands in front of me, all his deceased loved ones gather around him. They ask me questions themselves and willingly answer mine. What I hear from them is what I pass on to the living.” The appearance of fallen spirits under the guise of dead people has been known since ancient biblical times. The Word of God strongly prohibits such communication: Do not turn to those who call forth the dead (Lev. 19:31).

In addition to the spirits that appeared to Vanga under the guise of “small forces” and “big forces,” as well as deceased relatives, she communicated with another type of inhabitants other world. She called them inhabitants of the “planet Vamfim” (no comment).

In K. Stoyanova’s story about Vanga’s contacts with the dead, there is an episode where she communicated with the long-dead clairvoyant theosophist Helena Blavatsky. And when Svyatoslav Roerich visited Vanga, she told him: “Your father was not just an artist, but also an inspired prophet. All his paintings are insights, predictions.” As is known, The Council of Bishops in 2000 excommunicated ardent fighter against Christianity N. Roerich(founder of the occult teaching “Agni Yoga”) and E. Blavatsky(founder of the Theosophical Society) from the Church.

In addition, Vanga spoke very well of Juna Davitashvili, approved of the activities of psychics, communicated with many of them personally, and was actively involved in healing herself. As for the methods of its treatment, not a single magic textbook would disdain to describe them. Here brief retelling one of the many cases in Vanga’s practice and the recommendations she gave. A certain man, having lost his mind, grabbed an ax and rushed at his relatives, but when his brothers tied him up and brought him to Vanga, she advised him to do the following: “Buy a new clay pot, fill it with water from the river, scooping against the flow, and with this water three times water the patient. Then throw the pot back so it breaks, and don’t look back!” We don't see a word about repentance and church life who could heal the soul of the sick! Healings performed by Orthodox saints have always had the goal, first of all, of spiritual healing; healing the flesh at the cost of defeating the spirit is the lot of occult healers of all stripes.

In her activities, Vanga often used sugar, which allowed her to see a person’s past and future. A person who came to her for advice brought with him two or three pieces of sugar, which before that should have lain under his pillow for several days. Taking these pieces in her hands, Vanga told the person about his past and future. Fortune telling using a magic crystal has been known since ancient times. For Vanga, sugar was a type of crystal accessible to everyone that anyone could bring (sugar has a crystalline structure).

All the above facts and evidence show that Vanga’s “phenomenon” fully fits into classic frames experiences of communication with fallen spirits. The inhabitants of the other world revealed to Vanga the present and past of people.

Vanga herself did not realize that she was communicating with the world of fallen spirits. Nor did her many visitors understand this. A strict spiritual life and many years of ascetic experience save one from being seduced by fallen spirits. This attitude teaches spiritual sobriety and protects from harmful charm. St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), discussing fallen spirits, says that because of their sinfulness, people are closer to them than to the Angels of God. And therefore, when a person is not spiritually prepared, demons appear to him instead of angels, which, in turn, leads to grave spiritual seduction. Vanga had neither experience of Christian spiritual life, nor knowledge that could help her in a critical assessment of the incomprehensible phenomena that suddenly powerfully invaded her life. The house in which Vanga lived, in her opinion, was built on the site of an ancient pagan temple. There is evidence that many people, coming to this place, felt oppressed.

Yes, Vanga was engaged in divination and some of her predictions came true, but from the point of view of biblical teaching, this fact in itself does not prove the spiritual purity of the source of predictions, for example, in the Bible we read about a maid possessed “... by the spirit of divination, who through divination delivered great income for their masters” (Acts 16:16). Let us emphasize that the spirit of divination left the woman after the command of the apostle. Paul, speaking in the name of Jesus Christ: “Paul, being indignant, turned and said to the spirit: in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her. And [the spirit] went out that same hour” (Acts 16:18). Considering Vanga’s sympathies for the occult and extrasensory perception, we can conclude that the basis of her spiritual phenomenon were the same forces that feed the occult and magic, and therefore, if Vanga had been in the place of that New Testament servant, she would have suffered the same fate.

One day, by chance, finding myself close to a cross that had a piece of the Honest and Life-giving Cross Lord, Vanga demanded that he be removed from her, since she cannot prophesy. It is known that if Orthodox prayers began to be read next to Vanga, she also lost her gift.

Vanga Church

Vanga built a church in Rupite in the name of St. Paraskeva of Bulgaria. But here, too, not everything is so simple. The built temple violates all church canons. Architecture and painting belong to famous artist Svetlin Rusev, who is a big fan of Nicholas Roerich, which was very evident during the construction of the church. The altar and wall paintings were so inconsistent with ideas about Orthodox faith that some even called for the destruction of the building. The temple was nicknamed "Masonic".

Vanga herself called the construction of the church a “sacrifice.” The foundation stone of the church was laid on August 20, 1992 by the then Nevroko Metropolitan Pimen, but it should be noted that that year a schism occurred in the Bulgarian Church, and Metropolitan Pimen was one of the organizers of this schism. The construction of the church was carried out by the Vanga Foundation. In 1994, the altar of the temple was consecrated by the canonical Metropolitan Nathanael of Nevrokop, but despite this, schismatics and members of the “Vanga Foundation” immediately began to dispose of it. Currently, this temple has been turned into a tourist center. It is interesting that opposite the image of the Savior hangs a portrait of Vanga herself, made using the “pseudo-icon” technique, which also caused sharp rejection by the clergy, who call such faces semi-occult.

About the “holiness” of Vanga

Today, the countrymen of the great clairvoyant demand that the Church canonize Vanga as a saint. People come to her grave in Rupite, as if to a saint, with prayers and requests. Their argument for the “holiness” of Vanga is the words of Stoyanova: “Vanga was chosen by Heaven. Auntie was a believer, a modest woman. She observed the canons, prayed, and attended church with joy. And she always called for faith in God! As for the priests, they did not officially recognize her, but even metropolitans came to talk to her about business. And she told the truth, even the hard-hitting one.” Vanga herself in her statements spoke about good attitude to the Church and sometimes even baptized children. But Vanga didn’t convert anyone to Orthodoxy!

It must be emphasized that true Orthodox holiness is fundamentally different from the phenomena that we see in Vanga. Christian holiness manifests itself with full and clear consciousness of spiritual experiences; there is no violence against the will of man. The grace of God transforms a person not after natural disasters and hurricanes or after the appearance of horsemen, but after conscious Christian asceticism and observance of God's commandments. It usually takes many years of purification before the spiritual fruits begin to be visibly manifested. What is needed is moral effort and, as Seraphim of Sarov says, the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.

Vanga is far from these conditions, just as she has many misconceptions regarding the Christian faith. It is noteworthy that Vanga falls into a trance and does not remember anything after it. She has an alien voice in which she speaks, and this shows that another creature is possessing her, which she herself admitted. At the moment of such penetration, she (“the saint”) began to growl. This is not holiness, but obsession, the opposite of holiness. A person in such a state does not communicate with the Holy Spirit, with the Lord, but with dark forces.

As for performing miracles, miracles may not necessarily be manifestations of holiness. As we know from the lives of saints, not all saints performed miracles. Conversely, there are many cases of miracles in the absence of holiness (sorcerers, fortune tellers, modern psychics with frankly abnormal lives, some fans of Eastern religions, etc.), which is clear evidence that these supernatural “miracles” are the work of fallen spirits.

Many people who are far from the Church and have naive ideas about dark forces(and their human servants) are deceived by the fact that Vanga often talks about God, light, faith, Christ, love, wisdom. Vanga uses the word “Christianity” only as a screen. Under the guise of Christianity, they preach unchristian ideas and practice unchristian actions.

What do Vanga and Blessed Matrona of Moscow have in common? Blindness? So Homer was blind. Vanga openly practiced witchcraft, talked about a special gift that appeared to her after a strong hurricane, and took money for the reception (not personally, but through the foundation). It was a well-organized and well-established business, from which a lot of people profited - everyone around the Bulgarian sorceress. Blessed Matrona lay paralyzed, humbly carried her cross and prayed to God for the people who asked her about it.

No easy way to God and never was. That is why the Lord speaks about the narrow path. He does not promise everyone who wants to enter the Kingdom of God that they will enter it. He says that the Kingdom of God is taken by force. Modern man does not want to make any effort and does not force himself to do anything. He wants everything to happen with the wave of a magic wand. He wants to drive his car to the Kingdom of Heaven, where God himself will meet him, pat him on the shoulder and tell him that everything is fine, you are wonderful, nothing is required of you. But that's not true.

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

Used Books:

1. Hieromonk Vissarion (Zaographsky). "VANGA - PORTRAIT OF A MODERN WITCH"
2. Hieromonk Job (Gumerov). How does the Church relate to the “clairvoyant” Vanga?
3. Pitanov V.Yu. Vanga: who pulled the string?
4. Hieromonk Vissarion: “There is no easy path to God”

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Sometimes false information appears in the media that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church canonized Vanga. This statement is not true. Here is the official response to our site “Superstition.net”, received from Bulgaria:

Prot. Vasily Shagan, rector of the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Varna, Bulgaria:

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is not going to canonize Baba Vanga. I have not even heard of such a movement in our Church. If there is something similar, then this, I assume, is a bunch of some ardent representatives of the Vanga cult. She actually built a temple at her own expense, which was painted by one of the famous Bulgarian artists. But he obviously tried his hand at church painting for the first time, which resulted in something terrible, in the literal sense of the word.

This information can be confirmed in Moscow, at the courtyard of the Bulgarian Patriarchate:

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Gonchary

Goncharnaya st., 29, t. 915-62-88 M. "Taganskaya"

The rector of the metochion is Archimandrite Boris (Dobrev), Archimandrite Trifon (Krevsky), Priest Sergius Rznyanin, Priest Mikhail Avramenko. Divine service daily. Liturgy at 8 o'clock, on holidays. and Sunday Liturgy at 7 and 10 o'clock the day before all-night vigil at 17 o'clock

Archimandrite Gabriel, rector of the Bulgarian metochion in Moscow(Friendship magazine (Russians), No. 6, 1990):

Firstly, the prophecies of the Vangelia are not always correct. For example, she was wrong in her predictions for my relatives. And secondly, the Bulgarian Church does not at all claim that Vanga’s gift is from God. It may well be similar to that possessed by the slave mentioned in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

You, of course, remember that in one of the cities of Macedonia, a maid possessed by the spirit of divination followed Paul and his disciples for several days in a row. She did not stop shouting: “These people are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” It seems that there is something terrible in words that correspond to the truth? But the Apostle, recognizing their spirit, stopped this glorification of the enemy, speaking through her mouth, for what the enemy does, at first glance, is useful for a person, is certainly with a harmful purpose. The Apostle expelled this spirit from her, and she immediately lost the gift of prophecy.

True, among other gifts of the Spirit, Saint Paul also mentions the gift of prophecy. This is sent down to some saints. But they, knowing the will of God, never revealed to people everything about their fate, but only spiritually useful, saving things. the hard way human

Priest Dionisy Svechnikov:

The Church has a negative attitude towards Vanga’s activities. Vanga never had anything to do with God, and her predictions had nothing to do with Divine revelations. For the sake of authenticity of my words, I would like to give a couple of examples from the book of Vanga’s niece Kasimira Stoyanova, “The Truth about Vanga,” which make it clear that the Bulgarian healer was in direct contact with unclean spirits. Here is an excerpt from Kasimira’s story from this book: “I remember the day I turned 16 years old. I remember precisely because after dinner in our house in Petrich, Vanga suddenly began speaking, addressing me specifically. And it was no longer her at all, and I heard the voice of a completely different person: “You are always, every second in our sight.” And then she told me everything I had been doing all day... I was speechless. And then I asked my aunt why she said all this? Vanga was surprised: “I didn’t tell you anything.” But when I repeated everything I had just heard from her lips, she quietly said: “It’s not me, but others who are always near me. Some of them I call “small forces”, they were the ones who told you about your day through me, and there are also “big forces”. When they start telling me, or rather through me, I lose a lot of energy, I feel bad, I remain depressed for a long time.” As can be seen from this passage, Vanga's revelations are nothing more than obsession evil spirits. And, of course, communication with angels cannot lead to feelings of despondency. Here is another example, taken from the same book, from which we see that Vanga was in contact with demons of no lower order: “Having learned about the approaching disaster, my poor aunt turns pale, faints, incoherent words fly from her lips, and the voice at such moments has nothing to do with her in a normal voice. It is very strong and has nothing in common with Vanga’s everyday vocabulary... It’s as if some mind is moving into her to inform her about fateful events. She calls it “great power” or “great spirit.” I don’t think it’s worth saying who Vanga called “big spirits.”

I think all this information is enough for you to determine your attitude towards Vanga.

In 1994, at the expense of Vanga, according to the design of the Bulgarian architect Svetlin Rusev, the chapel of St. Paraskeva was built in the village of Rupite. The chapel was not consecrated by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, so they simply say “temple” about the building, without specifying its affiliation.

Photos of the temple built by Vanga and her words.

“I have seen this Church since 1941, from April 6, to this day. And I say to myself: here is my daughter, here is my son, my glory, this is everything for me ... "

I said that today is the fourteenth (October 14, the day of the consecration of the temple. - Ed.), and the Church is empty, and I was paralyzed. I couldn’t move my leg, my body below the waist seemed to be numb. And I was scared. Why was there no strength in my legs and I couldn’t stand? I survived it. She said that the church would be ready for that day. You can’t build a garage for yourself, but with God’s help I built a church!

Lord, Lord! There was no one in Petrich who would give even 200 or 1000 leva. Nobody gave a penny. And now they are spreading rumors that the money was stolen. Yes, my documents are in order, here they are, a whole bunch of papers, everything is written down down to the last penny. Okay, let them fight, because all evil is because of money, because of this damned money.

Whether I am the church, or the church is Vanga, or I am Vanga the church, in any case the temple wins. Early in the morning, when I go to church, at least a hundred souls are already waiting there. They had already prayed, lit the candles, and given five leva each. And, leaving, they say: “We lit a candle for your health.” Why? So that you are alive and well, they say. They come from America and from other powers, I can’t say exactly how many of them...”

At the age of 12, Vanga became blind under tragic circumstances. Moreover, there are two versions, one, so to speak, official (she became blind after being caught in a tornado), which was told by Vanga and her followers, and the version brought to light from the police archives by the Bulgarian journalist Svyatoslava Todorkova (she was raped and blinded by the rapist).

Bulgarian journalist Svyatoslava Todorkova found archives of meteorological observations from the early 20th century. (0:11:40) “I made a certificate from the meteorological service. They gave me an archival certificate from 1900: Were there any natural disasters? Tornadoes or large winds? And they told me that there was nothing like that.

She also managed to find a police report from Novosel, where Vanga lived at that time. “From a police report in 1923, Strumica, Macedonia: Local residents on the outskirts of Novosel found an unconscious girl of about 12 years old. Doctors at the hospital confirmed it. She was raped. Moreover, the criminals gouged out her eyes" (0:12:45) ...The report does not indicate a name, but there are already too many coincidences"

Vanga began to prophesy, or as she herself says, “fortune-telling,” only at the age of 30, before the start of the Second World War. Moreover, this is how she describes her first contact with otherworldly forces:

(0:19:23) Vanga: “A stranger comes and asks: Do I know him? I say "No. He says that he is Saint John Chrysostom. He said that the next day there would be war. And what will tell me: who will die and who will live? When I started predicting, everyone called me crazy, but after four hours... the war began.”

(0:20:53) Correspondent; “Do the dead speak?” Vanga: “Yes, they are still talking. They are standing here nearby.” Correspondent: “Wait, are they here?” Vanga: “Yes, they stand and talk about themselves. For example, someone comes to me and is looking for my son. A voice tells me: tell him that his son is dead."

“Seraphim answered with humility: “He came to me, like others, like you, he came as to a servant of God: I, a sinful Seraphim, think so that I am a sinful servant of God, which is what the Lord commands me as a servant.” To my own, then I pass on to the one who requires something useful. I consider the first thought that appears in my soul to be an indication from God and I speak, not knowing what is in my interlocutor’s soul, but only believing that the will of God is indicating this to me for his benefit. - Just as I forge iron, so I convey myself and my will to the Lord God: as He pleases, so I act; I do not have my own will; but what God pleases, I convey.

Life, instructions, prophecies St. Seraphim Sarov Wonderworker.(http://www..htm)

Although, of course, there are visits to saints, but on short time, for soulful communication. But I have never heard or read that voices sounded in the saint’s head. I cannot help but point out this difference. Moreover, the voices sounding in Vanga’s head torment her and give her no peace.

(1:06:49) Vanga’s friend: “She was very tired. And she always said that she had a headache. You said you are going home to sleep now. But they will torture me all night. I don’t know who tormented her.”

Although, in the film this is explained as the voices not of saints, but as the souls of the dead. Which the Church also does not recognize. According to the teaching of the Church and the experience of the saints, the voices of the dead cannot sound on their own. Only saints can appear from that world to help people, but not ordinary dead people in order to chat with those remaining on earth, through a medium.

Vanga’s neighbor Vasilka Stoyanova (0:22:57) “Once a woman came to Vanga whose husband was sick. Vanga ordered to catch the bird, pull out the heart, put this heart in a glass of wine and bring it to her so that it could stand with her for one evening. After which Vanga said: Your husband should eat this heart and drink wine. He did just that, after which the pain suddenly stopped.”

Attitude towards people

Vanga: (0: 29:15) “Listen, I’ve been wondering since April 6, 1941, and I still haven’t seen a single womanizer, but every second woman is a slut.”

Fortune telling and Curse

Vanga herself often said that she was under a curse. That everyone she loves is dying. The first husband, Demitar, became an alcoholic and died in 1962. Before marrying Vanga, he abandoned his most beautiful girl in the village to which he was already engaged. Lover Ivan Blagoy, who committed adultery with a fortune teller while having a wife and four children, hanged himself (0:32:43 -0:36:00)

Vanga knew that fortune telling is a mortal sin (1:14:10) “She told visitors that fortune telling is a mortal sin. In moments of fatigue, she complained to her loved ones that she was not doing a work pleasing to God, and was afraid that she would be severely punished. The seer was afraid of death and what awaited her beyond the grave..."

And in order to lift the curse, she decides to build a temple and thereby lift her curse (0:36:05).

It must be said that the church built by Vanga is very strange. It was painted by some secular modernist artist. The result was something that was not only unchurch, but even simply terrible, more reminiscent of a mockery of the Church (see photos inside and outside)

But it seems to me that the attitude towards the construction itself, the very construction of the church, is more important. Why did she build it? From scattered quotes it becomes clear that Vanga was afraid of death, afraid of punishment for unpleasing fortune-telling. And she believed that she could atone for her guilt not by personal repentance, but by this very construction, and by the fact that she would be begged for in this church.

(0:36:30) Vanga: “The church will work day and night. Here... This is not a city church that works by the hour, it will be open all day. And two men to guard"

Moreover, wanting to cleanse himself with such an act, Vanga absolutely does not want to bear the fruit of personal repentance. He does not want to give up fortune telling, although this has become the only condition on the part of the Church. Repent, give up fortune telling, and we will sanctify your church. But that did not happen. It is indicative how negotiations are being conducted between Vanga and a representative of the Church on the eve of the supposed consecration of its building

(1:18:31) Vanga: “the service will be on Thursday evening!” Priest: "We can't come. All people can, but priests, monks can't." Vanga: "What do you need?! What are you missing?! Why don't you want to come?! So many people will be there, but you won't will it be?! What is this?! On Friday the 14th we will consecrate the church!

Priest: “A priest can’t do that. There is only one church. If you feel like you are part of this Church, you must do as it should be.”

Vanga: “On Friday you will come to bless the church! All! You just come there, hallelujah, hallelujah and that’s it.”

The priest set a condition: the temple would be accepted and consecrated in one single case: if Vanga repented and forever renounced fortune-telling... Vanga refused, and the temple was not consecrated... then she opened the temple on her own. Instead of icons on its walls there are images of Vanga herself.”

Pay attention to the tone with which she speaks. She orders the priest to come and consecrate! Moreover, according to her, it’s so easy to do “come, hallelujah, hallelujah and that’s it.” Terrible behavior of an eccentric old woman - there’s no other way to call it. But here we need to understand why she behaves this way. It seems that she is extremely scared. After all, if “hallelujah is all,” then you can do without a priest. I built it and that’s it! But no, she is mortally afraid of punishment, she is mortally afraid of being left without forgiveness, without “protection”. She urgently needs to “launch” the church, to force services to begin there. It seems to her that in this case everything will be forgiven! And that’s why she gets annoyed when the priest expresses his refusal to come on the day appointed by Vanga.

It is necessary to point out Vanga’s unchristian behavior, lack of humility, pride, and arbitrariness. She herself decided to build a church, she herself appointed the day of consecration, and orders to come and consecrate, even if it was only an appearance “come, hallelujah and that’s all.”

But another episode shows that Vanga treated the construction of the church as a magical act.

(1:17:30) “in 94, two years before Vanga’s death, the church was finally built. Relatives said that on the eve of the opening of the temple, the prophetess was more worried than ever, and at the last moment she even replaced the overly magnificent opening ceremony with an intimate family celebration.”

Direct speech (1:17:46) “Tomorrow, when we consecrate... I’m scared... so that I don’t fall into a trance when I enter... That’s why I don’t want anyone to be around... No one I trust... If I fall into a trance in church, then that’s it!..."

Obviously, it seems to her that if she does not fall into a trance, then she has been forgiven, but if otherworldly forces attack her in the church, “that’s it.” She doesn’t understand what repentance is, and that building a church and donating millions has nothing to do with it, that only heartfelt repentance is needed. And this suggests that she is extremely far from the Church. I will also note that nowhere have I ever seen it said that Vanga attended services or received communion at least once. Correct me if this is not so. However, one gets the impression that she was very far from the Church.

last years of life

(0:43:55) "B last days Vanga felt extremely bad in her life. She suffered from nightmarish visions, constantly lost consciousness, and spoke some incoherent phrases. This is a fragment of her dying interview. Vanga: “Oh, what clowns there are around. Leave me at least now so that my heart doesn’t shake.”

By the end of her life, Vanga had accumulated a large fortune. Vanga’s security guard Petr Kostadinov says: (0:49:20) “I personally deposited 16 million leva into Vanga’s account. It was just part of her fortune."

(0:49:30) “This is a fragment of her dying interview. In the last minutes of her life, Vanga did not talk about global things and did not make loud predictions. The elderly woman was more concerned about how her relatives would divide her inheritance.”

I didn’t take the predictions themselves, I just showed how Vanga lived, how she related to the Church, and how she died. And I can conclude that saints could not appear to her, but demons could. Moreover, a person outside the Church is defenseless against the spirits of evil. If only because he completely forgets that demons also appear in the form of angels. A person outside the Church is deprived of the gift of discerning the spirits of evil, and often perishes by surrendering to them.