Probratimstvo and Posestrimstvo

From Slavic.info

Under the spirit of Zadruga the Serbs developed, also, some artificial relationships, Pobratim (brother-in-God), Potestrima (spiritual sister, or sister-in-God), Kum (Godfather), and their derivations: Probratimstvo (brotherhood), Posestrimstvo (sisterhood), and Kumstvo (God-fathership).16 Pobratimstvo and Posestrimstvo mean sacred bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood among two male or two female friends, a close friendship between two men or two women, or even between a man and a woman, which among the Serbs is still solemnized with the sacraments of the Church, followed by a feast, and the following toast shows the spirit of that union, a union which is never dissolved:

"With whom drink I to-day? With thee, honored brother, with thee drink I to-day In God's name.

The Virgin bless thine earthly store; Increase thine honor more and more; Be near thy friend with helpful deed, But never thou his help to need. God grant thee much of earthly bliss, And may the saints thy forehead kiss. May wine for friends abundant flow, And children in thy household grow. May God unite our house and land, As we thus grasp each other's hand."

The Lazarovich-Hreblianovichs in their splendid book, The Serbian People (New York, Scribner, 1910, I, pp. 7374) give an account of Pobratimstvo and Posestrimstvo:

"An old Serbian custom still surviving in many districts is the adoption by two men or boys of each other as 'brother,' or by girls as 'sister,' or sometimes by two of different sex as brother and sister. The brother, in that case, would be a relative of the girl, too near in blood, according to Serbian usage, to marry or admit of any but fraternal affections between the two. It would be sacrilege and illegal for them to marry. This system is and was the literal application of the Christian principle of 'brotherhood,' developed into an institution during the bitterest times of oppression by a foreign foe. The two young men going into battle bound themselves as brothers in ties of close fealty which endured through all trials. The oath of fidelity for life was sworn before the altar in the church and consecrated by the priest, and often sealed by the exchange of a drop of blood, drunk in a cup of red wine. If one died the surviving one was, in all respects, like a true brother to the family of his dead 'pobratim.' This tie is considered most sacred by Serbians and cannot be broken, no matter how severely it may be tried by any circumstances that may arise. It is recognized by a law conferring right of inheritance as well as family obligations. Milosh Obrenovich, of the war of Serbian liberation, was the pobratim of the Turkish commander Ali-Aga Sertchesma, a Mohammedan Serbian, who was afterward opposed to him in battle. When the aga's army vanquished, Milosh was a brother to him and protected his personal life, liberty and property, as he in similar circumstances protected Milosh's life."

The love of a sister for her brother among the Serbs is proverbial. Entire ballads are devoted to beautiful examples of such love. There is no greater and more solemn oath for a sister among the Serbs than that sworn by the name of her brother.