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Glite Dictionary
starets

starets

1 9.9
A spiritual elder in the Eastern Orthodox Church who guides monks and visitors
  • noun
  • /ˈstɑːrɛts/
: starets
  • The starets offered wisdom and spiritual comfort to those who visited the monastery.

Examples

  • Many pilgrims traveled great distances to seek the counsel of a respected starets.

  • The starets offered profound wisdom to the community.

  • In Russian literature, the figure of the starets often symbolizes moral authority and guidance.

  • Many monks seek guidance from a starets during their spiritual journey.

  • Many pilgrims traveled great distances to seek the counsel of a respected starets.

  • The starets offered wisdom and spiritual comfort to those who visited the monastery.

  • In Russian literature, the figure of the starets often symbolizes moral authority and guidance.

Synonyms

lama
vsstarets
  • Specialized
57 7.5

A monk in Tibetan Buddhism who teaches and guides people

is an institutional elder in the Eastern Orthodox tradition guiding monks and laypeople
sage
vsstarets
33 6.8

A wise person respected for spiritual or life guidance

is an institutional elder who guides monks and laypeople within a church setting
clergyman
vsstarets
22 4.7

A man who leads services and gives spiritual help in a church

is a more specific elder adviser in the Eastern Orthodox tradition for monks and laypeople

How Religious

saint
492 3.9
starets
1 9.9
abbot
16 9.0

Surface Forms

starets singular
staretses plural

Etymology

Starets comes from the Russian root star- meaning 'old', so it originally meant 'old man' and brings to mind a wise, elderly figure in a monastery. That's why a starets is a spiritual elder or adviser in the Orthodox Church.