Средновековните кодове в модерната представа за Другостта (Евреите и ритуалното убийство на деца)
Medieval codes in the modern notion of Otherness (Jews and ritual murder of children)

Summary/Abstract: Article examines the question of medieval belief in use of Christian’s blood by the Jews for ritual purposes. The analysis is based on a case in Bulgarian town (Vratsa), happened in 1891, when the death body of 6 years old boy was found. As a result, in the town took place mass disorders and attempts to take the laws in their own hands by the Christians. Analysis is concerned on social reflection on criminal act, that happened in Vratsa. Focused on the social context, article discusses cultural stereotypes, which mirror community’s heterophobia and form the attitudes towards the place of Jews in the modern Bulgarian society. Research pays attention to the political context, which is dominated in that period of an enormously huge wave of repressions in Russia, directed to the Jewish people in the country. As a result of heavy terror a lot of refugees leaves Russia and sought asylum in the different European countries. The case in Vratsa reflects medieval myths, which is widespread all over the Europe during the centuries and shows the mechanisms of its modern political uses. The durability of this myth is analyzed in the light of the problem about Christian children canonized by the Church as saints-martyrs, which legitimize the local beliefs of this „common knowledge”.

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