Dear Adamku!

Yes, your son, as John, would be "Ioann Adamovich (and your surname)"

The East Slavs especially made much of using the three names, Christian Name (denoting their Patron Saint), then the Patronym (Father's Christian name with "ovych" or "ivna" or "ovna" at the end = "son of a vych") and the Surname which in older times often referred to the city or town you lived in etc.

Two or more Christian names are not allowed in the Byzantine tradition - only one Patron Saint per person.

The tradition also was to measure a new-born baby and to cut a piece of board the same length ("taking the full measure") and then writing the patron saint's icon on that board for the baby.

Is this too much information?

Alex

Dear Alex,

What if we consider the two words of "Ioann Zlatoust" as one name (this is how we refer to him in church, and the name with which he receives Communion). Just plain "John" to my wife and I is more like a nickname. How would that be treated then?

The Surname being a town or local was reserved for gentry and aristocracy from whence my family comes. We were carpenters and shipwrights (one side had shipyards until our beloved Lutheran Kaiser appropriated them for his use). How we got our name is lost to us in my immediate family.

I wish i would have known more about the tradition of the board and the Ikon being written on it. I would have been all over that. My wife wants more, so there will be other opportunities.

LOL

ChristTeen287

Dear Akemner,

Zlatoust? Hmmmm . . .

It is a unique name.

It is true that "John" is the most popular and well-used name going.

There is an incredible number of St Johns in the calendar.

As a "for instance," when two hundred British martyrs under the English Kings were beatified some time ago, a total of 73 out of the 200 bore the Christian name "John . . ."

One may of differentiating is, of course, adding the Patronym, "John Adamovich."

Zlatoust is fine, if you like!

My second name is "John" and I was named primarily for St John de Brebeuf at whose intercession I was conceived, or so the story goes . . .

I sometimes use "Jean-de-Brebeuf" but only in specific contexts . . .

Alex

Dear Alex:



Just wait when Autumn came upon the Garden . . .

AmdG

Dear Amado,

So I suppose the next thing you'll be suggesting is that that is where the word, "tummy" came from?

Alex