Vrukólaka

In the northern regions of Greece there lives aparticularly barbaric species of vampire known as a vrukólaka, although the vrukólaka was originally a Slavic vampire. Created when the Devil possesses a corpse, the vrukólaka then rises from its grave and begins to systematically kill first its relatives before moving on to people outside of its family tree. To destroy the vrukólaka, the body must be exhumed and a priest perform an exorcism over the corpse. If this method proves to be unsuccessful, then the body must be cut up into little pieces and burned down to ash.

Source:

• Leake, Travels in Northern Greece, 216;
• Summers, Vampire in Europe, 253;
• Wright, Book of Vampires, 42

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology Written by :Theresa Bane ©2010 Theresa Bane. All rights reserved