Geronta

A geronta (Greek, pronounced yeronda) or staretz (Russian) (both literally meaning elder) is a holy person gifted with the charism of spiritual direction, often a monk or hermit (not necessarily a priest), in the Church. The plural of the Russian form is startsy. 
Russian, elder, starets, from Old Church Slavonic starĭtsĭ, elder, from starŭ, old. Other forms: stareţ; starĭtsa or gerontissa for women.
==See also==
*Gabrielia (Papayannis)
*Seraphim of Sarov
==External link==
*Starets at Wikipedia
Category:Monastics
Category:Saints