Pronunciation: ' stär- ə ts, -y ə ts
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural star · tsy \ ' stärt-s ē \
Etymology: Russian, from stary ĭ old ― more at STOUR
Date: 1917
: a spiritual director or religious teacher in the Eastern Orthodox Church specifically : a spiritual adviser who is not necessarily a priest, who is recognized for his piety, and who is turned to by monks or laymen for spiritual guidance