həˈrēzēˌärk, heˈ-, -rēsē-; ˈherəsēˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin haeresiarcha, from Late Greek hairesiarchēs leader of a sect, leader of a group of heretics, from Greek hairesis sect & Late Greek, heresy + Greek -archēs -arch — more at heresy
: an originator or chief advocate of a heresy : leader of a group of heretics
it is not only the lives of saints who leave their mark … but the lives of heresiarchs and sinners as well — D.H.Wiest
became the chief Communist heresiarch — E.J.Simmons