Kumovi (plural) is a South Slavic term, primarily Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian, referring to godparents or best man/maid of honor, representing a deep, sacred bond of spiritual family, often more significant than blood relatives, involved in major life events like baptisms and weddings. A kum (male) or kuma (female) acts as a lifelong spiritual guide, supporting the godchild or newlyweds, and the term signifies a cherished, unbreakable, chosen family relationship.
Kumovi) is a Serbian word that has a couple accepted translations: godfather and best man, depending on the context. Kum means godfather when the role involves the sacred institution of Godparenthood (Kumstvo) in the Orthodox Church. In other words, the bringing up of children in the Faith.
The official witnesses at the Croatian wedding ceremony are: Kuma (maid of honor) Kum (best man)
As with other Eastern Orthodox churches, the Serbian Orthodox Church believes in God revealing himself through Jesus Christ and in the sanctity of the Holy Trinity. One of the main distinguishing features of the Serbian Orthodox Church is its use of the Serbian language during the Divine Liturgy.
Slava is passed down exclusively through male lineage and it symbolizes family identity, unity, and faith. In 2014, Slava was inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists of Serbia. In general, the observance of Slava remains one of the most enduring and cherished traditions among Serbs worldwide.
The name Slava originates from Slavic languages, particularly in Russian and Ukrainian cultures, where it conveys the meaning of glory or fame. This term is deeply rooted in the linguistic traditions of Slavic peoples, reflecting a cultural appreciation for honor and renown.
It is considered to be an honour to be invited to a family's slava (a celebration of a family's patron saint). If invited, bring a symbolic gift, such as a bottle of wine, and greet everyone by saying “Srecna slava”.
Thus, holding hands is unacceptable, until you are engaged or with whom you have at least proposed. Kissing is unacceptable because it is a precursor for a more intimate relationship and further advances more sexual activity. The Holy Book of Proverbs is the perfect guide for righteous relationships.
We said yesterday that Jesus was known as 'Yeshua' to his friends and family. This name, we remarked, means 'Savior'. 'Yeshua' is also the name, in Hebrew, for the Old Testament hero Joshua.
The difference between ☦ (Orthodox Cross) and ✝ (Latin Cross) lies in their bars: the Orthodox cross has three bars (a small top one for the inscription, the main one, and a slanted bottom one for the footrest), symbolizing Eastern Orthodoxy, while the Latin cross has one bar, representing Western Christianity's focus on Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, with both symbols generally signifying faith, Christianity, or support, but specific denominations prefer their distinct form.
Orthodox Christian teaching generally discourages artificial contraception like condoms, emphasizing openness to life, but permits them under specific circumstances (e.g., health, economic hardship) for spacing children, not avoiding them, with a priest's blessing, through pastoral economy (dispensation) and as long as they aren't abortive (preventing implantation). The decision rests heavily on individual conscience and guidance from a spiritual father, with natural family planning often preferred over artificial methods.
You should know that at Serbian weddings, the expected gift is in the form of a card with best wishes and money in it. The amount depends on your relationship with the bride and groom, but it should at least cover your stolica (= chair, seat).
According to this tradition, the bride's sibling or another family member will send a 'false bride' out to the soon-to-be husband and his environs before the genuine ceremony. Normally, this is an old girl or man dressed up in bridal outfit, resulting in very much jolly fun and teasing.
Dragi/draga (dear) is perhaps the most common term of endearment in Serbian. It is gender-specific with “dragi” being used for males and “draga” for females. This term is often used both in romantic relationships and among close friends or family.
Kumstvo 🇲🇪 Location: Montenegro. Definition: Godparenthood; informal network based on fictive kinship, used to semi-formalise friendly relations and useful contacts. Keywords: Montenegro – Balkans – Yugoslavia – Europe – Godparenthood – Personal connections – Kinship – Fictive kinship.
Things needed for Baptism:
In the Orthodox Church all prayer is Trinitarian. We pray in the Holy Spirit, through Jesus the Son of God, and in his name, to God the Father.
Jesus's real name in his native Aramaic/Hebrew was Yeshua (ישוע), a common short form of Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning "Yahweh saves," which was then transliterated into Greek as Iēsoûs (Ἰησοῦς) and eventually into the English "Jesus". "Christ" isn't a last name, but a title meaning "Anointed One" or Messiah, similar to "Joshua" or "Jesus" being a popular name in 1st-century Israel.
Eastern Orthodox crucifix, displays the lettering in Greek: ΙΝΒΙ (Trapeza of Holy Trinity Monastery, Meteora, Greece). The initialism INRI represents the Latin inscription Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdæorvm (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), which in English translates to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" (John 19:19).
Then, Christ tells those present that He will forgive all sins and blasphemies against Himself, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come (Matt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-30; Lk 11:18).
In Orthodox Christianity, maintaining purity and avoiding situations that could lead to temptation is highly valued. Sharing the same bed with your partner before marriage, even without engaging in sexual activity, can be seen as a potential source of temptation and may not be advisable.
The Kiss and the Pronouncement
While there isn't a kiss in the traditional Jewish wedding “script,” today most Jewish weddings include one.
In Serbian, "babe" (meaning baby or a term of endearment) translates to beba (беба) for a baby, or affectionate terms like bejbi (бејби), luče (луче - little one), or dušo (душо - soul/honey) when used romantically or affectionately for a loved one, with many other cute nicknames available.
The Serbian three-finger salute (thumb, index, and middle finger extended) symbolizes the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in Orthodox Christianity, an ancient sign for oaths, and today is a powerful symbol of Serbian national identity, pride, and unity, often used to express belonging to the Serbian nation, though its use during the Balkan wars has given it nationalist connotations for some.
Saying 'Good Morning' to someone in Croatian translates to 'Dobro jutro' in Croatian. Remembering that the letter 'j' is often pronounced as a 'y' in the Croatian language, will definitely help you master this one! Dobro jutro is pronounced 'doh-broh you-troh'.