*Illustrative image — not an authentic photograph of Baba Vanga.
Vangeliya Pandeva Gushterova, later known as Baba Vanga, was born on October 3, 1911, in the town of Strumica, Macedonia. Her father, Pando Surčev, came from the village of Novo Selo. During the period of Ottoman rule, he was imprisoned as a rebel in the notorious Yedi Kule fortress, a prison used for all kinds of captives. After his release in 1908, he returned to Strumica. Later on, his wife died, leaving little Vanga motherless at the age of three.
When she was only twelve years old, her life changed forever. While out in the fields near her home, a violent thunderstorm struck, and in its aftermath she suddenly lost her sight. Despite every attempt and the medicine available at the time, nothing could restore her vision.
In the early months of 1941 (before she turned 30), Vanga began to experience the first signs of her extraordinary abilities. She described a vision of a radiant horseman clad in golden armor—tall, blond, and glowing with an otherworldly light. He dismounted in front of her family’s home, stepped inside, and spoke:
“Soon the world will fall into chaos, and many lives will be lost. You will speak of the living and the dead. Do not be afraid—I will remain by your side and whisper to you what must be told.”
That vision marked a turning point. At the age of thirty, Vanga began to link events and places in ways that astonished those around her. She could name mobilized soldiers, predict who would survive the front lines, and who would not return.
Word of her gift spread quickly. Within a short time, hundreds of people came seeking guidance. Vanga not only foretold personal destinies but also recommended herbal remedies, many of which were believed to bring remarkable results. She became known as both a seer and a healer, helping people find lost livestock, missing possessions, and even lost hope. No one was ever turned away.
Over the decades, her home welcomed more than half a million visitors. Illness forced her to withdraw from public life at times, particularly between 1941 and 1995, but her reputation only grew stronger.
Although often approached for prophecies about the fate of nations, Vanga preferred to focus on the struggles of ordinary people. She listened to those in pain, offering comfort and encouragement. Only rarely did she speak of broader global events, carefully choosing a few confidants to share such visions with. Perhaps she believed that revealing too much about the world’s destiny was dangerous.
What is certain is that she disliked journalists and reporters, preferring instead to devote her energy to the people who came to her with genuine suffering and hope.
This article draws partly on material from Ženi Kostadinová’s book Proroctví jasnovidky Vangy.