Spa and Wellness in Bulgaria
The palace Rupite is located nearly 15 km southwest of Sandanski, in the foothills of Kogush Mountain - an extinct volcano. This place is an oasis - mild Mediterranean climate, mineral springs gushing out from the womb of the earth, plenty of sunshine. As a chemical content the mineral water in Rupite is very close to the water in the famous SPA resorts Vichy in France, and Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic. Various plants and birds complement the eco system of the region.
It is difficult for me to separate Vanga from Rupite, and Rupite from Vanga. Several times I started this page in different ways. One time, I wrote only for Rupite as a region. Other time, I wrote only for Vanga as phenomena, but always I had the feeling that something is missing. Finally, I understood – I cannot separate them. They came together a long time ago, and they will stay together after us. So, please, do forgive me if my narration is not smooth enough.
These might be the reasons the holy woman and prophetess Vanga to live here for more than 30 years. In 1994 in Rupite a church was built called “St. Petka,” dedicated to Vanga. After her death on 13 August 1996, the holy woman was buried in the yard of “St. Petka” Church.
Portrait of Vanga by Svetlin Roussev
For more than 50 years prophetess Vanga helped people in misfortune, giving them practical advice, or just a good word in the moments of hopelessness. Different kinds of people come to meet Vanga; people from different stages of life, people with different needs and personalities, but with one thing in common - searching for a hope. Who else, if not Vanga could know the price of the pain and darkness…
Let me give you some more information about the phenomena Vanga. Her full name is Vangelia Pandeva Gusterova, born on 3rd October, 1911 in a village called Strumica, today in the territory of Republic of Macedonia. Her childhood was poor and sad, and it became even harder when her mother died. Vanga was three years old. There were difficult days for her and her father – Pande Surchev. After few years he got married again, and from this marriage Vanga has three brothers and a sister. In 1923, the entire family moved to the nearby village Novo Selo. When she was 12 years old the worst thing happened. One sunny day, Vanga was playing with her friends not far away from her home. Suddenly, a whirlwind came from nowhere and raised her in the air. After some time, people found her few meters away, lying down on the ground badly injured. Since that time Vanga was blind, but not for the pain of other human beings.
For the Bulgarians Vanga is well-known. For the people, who have heard about her from this web site, it might be difficult to understand how big, how significant Vanga was. For these readers I will give one example only. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy wanted to visit Vanga in 1970. Since Bulgaria was a communistic country at that time, there were negotiations on a high level how this meeting to be made in Greece or Macedonia. Finally, the Bulgarian authorities didn’t allow this to happen.
In a difficult moment of my life, I went to meet Vanga too. I will never forget this meeting. It was short, but I left her house with a hope in my heart. Now, when I look back through the years, I realize that she was right - it happened exactly as she told me.
Today, people come to Rupite to cure their health problems, but no one miss to visit “St. Petka” church, to light a candle, and to pray…for himself, for his family, for all human beings.
