starets

sta·rets  (stäryts)

n. pl. star·tsy (stärts)

A spiritual adviser, often a monk or religious hermit, in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

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[Russian, elder, starets, from Old Church Slavonic starts, elder, from star, old; see st- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

starets - a religious adviser (not necessarily a priest) in the Eastern Orthodox Church adviser, advisor, consultant - an expert who gives advice; "an adviser helped students select their courses"; "the United States sent military advisors to Guatemala"