starets

[ stahr-its, -yits ]

/ ˈstɑr ɪts, -yɪts /

a religious teacher or counselor.

RELATED WORDS

1915–20; < Russian stárets elder, derivative of stáryǐ old

What followed ought, I saw, not to be read aloud to that trio, who might at any moment turn to be enemies of the Starets.
The Minister of Evil|William Le Queux
The Tsar bowed as the Starets, crossing himself, bestowed his blessing upon him.
The Minister of Evil|William Le Queux
All he could do then was to obey the starets, to restrain himself, to undertake nothing, and simply to wait.
Father Sergius|Leo Tolstoy
He did so, and took leave of the starets and moved to the other monastery.
Father Sergius|Leo Tolstoy

One day a frantic message came to me over the telephone from Madame Vyrubova, who inquired the whereabouts of the Starets.
The Minister of Evil|William Le Queux