Paper short abstract:

This paper analyzes the phenomenon of cyberpilgrimages in contemporary Bulgaria: to canonical Bulgarian Orthodox pilgrimage destinations like the Rila Monastery as well as newer ones like the Forest of Crosses, and to the church and burial place of Baba Vanga (1911-1996).

Paper long abstract:

The presentation concerns the destinations of various virtual pilgrimages of the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition and how they transformed during the 20th century (e.g., being the the political and economic influence sphere of the Soviet Union and corresponding official regulation of religious practices). Three pilgrimage destinations are compared: a) the abbey and chapel of Ivan of Rila, a symbol of identity and religious continuity since the Middle Ages, one of the most popular pilgrimage destination and legendary node of southern Slavs; b) the monastery of Holy trinity - the Forest of Crosses, c) the church, abbey, burial site and religious complex in the former home of the Bulgarian religious clairvoyant Baba Vanga (1911-1996), a controversial person.

All three sites are related to different layers of religion, tightly bound with Bulgarian political history, identity, personal religious phenomena, and the virtual and physical pilgrimages carry different connotations. Ivan of Rila is one of the most influential theological figures of Bulgarian Orhtodoxy, the name saint of the country. The Forest of Crosses is a legendary place where pieces of Christ's Cross are preserved whereas the Baba Vanga cult site is a 21st century complex.

The paper is based on comparative fieldwork (2006-2013, both online and on-site) concerning different sacred sites as the nodes of traditions. All three locations differ in their narrative components, target groups and follow different developmental trends.