Vampires from Slavic languages are called Upir. The name is pronounced in various ways depending on where you are. These include Ophir, Opur, Upyr, and Upier. b Even while the belief in their existence was widespread in places like Poland, Romania, Russia, and former Czechoslovakia, the cultures of Ukraine and Belarus have the most vivid stories about these beings. Unlike the traditional vampires of folklore, Upirs did not lose their humanity in broad daylight.
Slavic cultures have a wide range of theories on where Upirs came from. One theory proposes that Upirs are the cursed entities resulting from the actions of those who committed mortal sins or refused to accept Jesus Christ. The Orthodox church barred such individuals from its cemetery because they were “unclean.” This was meant as punishment, as it was thought that the flesh of their corpses would rot more slowly than usual. People of those eras commonly assumed that Upirs served the Devil or were possessed since they did not believe in god. It was thought that these Devil’s minions could become undead and resurrect. b There was also the theory that the Upirs used the corpse of a sick person in their mission to convert people from god. People possessed by spirits were previously presented as usual and went unrecognized.
Upirs were also said to be ladies in Russia who sold their souls to the Devil. They’d rest in cemeteries and abandoned bathhouses throughout the day, then return there to haunt at night. Also, these female Upirs’ objective was to make people stop believing in god. There is a widespread belief in Belarusian folklore that these animals can shapeshift and ride horses. Upirs had a reputation for feasting on the hearts of their victims, and their need for blood was considerably more significant than that of a regular vampire. Aside from consuming it orally, they also showered and dozed off in a bed of fresh blood. The Upirs were also said to prioritize eating the family’s children before moving on to the adults.
Several methods have been suggested in the stories for dispatching these beasts. By driving a consecrated stake through their hearts or plunging them into the holy water, one is staking them to the ground. Some stories suggest that you should only stake them once, as a second time would bring them back to life even more powerful than before. Death by incineration or destruction via fire is another option. It was thought that if you baked bread using vampire blood and ate it, you would be safe from the spirits.