Deconstructing the Prophetic Narrative: The Kremna Prophecy Between the Two World Wars

Abstract

According to a widely held public belief, the visionary members of the Tarabić family supposedly predicted a large number of future historical events and the personal destinies of certain famous rulers of Serbia. These predictions, collectively known as the Kremna Prophecy have—from their origin to the present day—represented an apocryphal text that has been repeatedly amended and adapted in various iterations to
fit historical and current political circumstances, casting serious doubt on their authenticity. This paper examines the formation and political deployment of these predictions between the First and Second World Wars, highlighting the role of its promoters and critics, such as Radovan Kazimirović, Ilija Đukanović, Dragan Aleksić, and others. The article aims to demonstrate how political prophecies become narratives through which reality is interpreted and constructed, forging a political apparatus that propagates
these interpretations through the media. In this process, the accuracy of the predictions is of secondary importance, while the credibility of the prophet is determined through retroactive dating—reiterating supposedly fulfilled prophecies that refer to events occurring before the prophecy’s public revelation. This “vicious cycle” provides valuable insight into how politics can recognize and elevate a segment of folk religion and belief
to the pedestal of sanctity, presenting it as a symbol of national identity— ultimately to resolve a particular social crisis by framing contemporary political events as the inevitable consequence of fate or the will of a “higher power.”