From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history
The article delves into processes unfolding in Bulgaria in the 1970s, centring around two figures: Vanga, known as the seer of Petrič, and the mystic painter Nicholas Roerich, to demonstrate the changes in the structure and meaning of categories related to religion that occurred in the peri...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute for Balkan Studies SASA
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Balcanica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455241V.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832581944348508160 |
|---|---|
| author | Valtchinova Galia |
| author_facet | Valtchinova Galia |
| author_sort | Valtchinova Galia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article delves into processes unfolding in Bulgaria in the 1970s,
centring around two figures: Vanga, known as the seer of Petrič, and the
mystic painter Nicholas Roerich, to demonstrate the changes in the structure
and meaning of categories related to religion that occurred in the period of
“mature socialism”. The first section looks into the activities of the
clairvoyant Vanga and her changing status to uncover the gradual process
that transformed her from a local vračka (healer/witch) into the “Bulgarian
Pythia”. The second and longest section is dedicated to the Nicholas Roerich
Program of 1978, promoted at the highest level in the framework of the
celebration of 1300 years of the Bulgarian state, and its impact on coining
a peculiar concept of spirituality. The third and final part explores the
links between Roerich, Vanga, the notion of spirituality, and a certain
vision of history. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-37f65c89c7de4d80a6522924bbc2d14d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0350-7653 2406-0801 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Institute for Balkan Studies SASA |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Balcanica |
| spelling | doaj-art-37f65c89c7de4d80a6522924bbc2d14d2025-01-30T06:44:48ZengInstitute for Balkan Studies SASABalcanica0350-76532406-08012024-01-0120245524126110.2298/BALC2455241V0350-76532455241VFrom “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of historyValtchinova Galia0Department of Anthropology, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaures, Toulouse, FranceThe article delves into processes unfolding in Bulgaria in the 1970s, centring around two figures: Vanga, known as the seer of Petrič, and the mystic painter Nicholas Roerich, to demonstrate the changes in the structure and meaning of categories related to religion that occurred in the period of “mature socialism”. The first section looks into the activities of the clairvoyant Vanga and her changing status to uncover the gradual process that transformed her from a local vračka (healer/witch) into the “Bulgarian Pythia”. The second and longest section is dedicated to the Nicholas Roerich Program of 1978, promoted at the highest level in the framework of the celebration of 1300 years of the Bulgarian state, and its impact on coining a peculiar concept of spirituality. The third and final part explores the links between Roerich, Vanga, the notion of spirituality, and a certain vision of history.https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455241V.pdfbulgariaindialjudmila zhivkovapythiaroerichrussiavangaancient civilizationclairvoyancehistorymystiquereligionspiritualitythracology |
| spellingShingle | Valtchinova Galia From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history Balcanica bulgaria india ljudmila zhivkova pythia roerich russia vanga ancient civilization clairvoyance history mystique religion spirituality thracology |
| title | From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history |
| title_full | From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history |
| title_fullStr | From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history |
| title_full_unstemmed | From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history |
| title_short | From “religion” to “spirituality” in socialist Bulgaria: Vanga, Nicholas Roerich, and the mystique of history |
| title_sort | from religion to spirituality in socialist bulgaria vanga nicholas roerich and the mystique of history |
| topic | bulgaria india ljudmila zhivkova pythia roerich russia vanga ancient civilization clairvoyance history mystique religion spirituality thracology |
| url | https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-7653/2024/0350-76532455241V.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT valtchinovagalia fromreligiontospiritualityinsocialistbulgariavanganicholasroerichandthemystiqueofhistory |