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Staretz
Rudyard Kipling said that east is east, and west is west. This provides the best beginning, as far as I can tell, for the rest of the words that follow what you have read up to this point.
The east places less emphasis on the verifiable, and more on the ethereal.
Which is why in so many eastern groupings, and this includes Christian denominations, we see the elevation of an ethical guide.
The slavic term is staretz. In greek it is Geron.
Either way, they are to be venerated, but not worshipped.
Heady stuff, but their wisdom when properly utilized is beneficial, instead of harmful.
But some staretzi have been oppressed, like Seraphim of Sarov, because of the state of the oppressors.
Thanks for following this winding trail.
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