STARETS (plur. STARTSY). - That is, “elder,” a very ancient monastic institution in Russia. The s. (whether priest or not) is the monk who, possessed by the Holy Spirit, becomes a guide on the way to perfection.
In the monastery the s. holds no office of government. His very life, and not the choice of others, makes him an s.; through the spiritual experience of a life of renunciation and prayer, he succeeds in attracting souls, which sense in him, to some extent, the presence of God.
The institution of the s. originated in convents, where, in addition to spiritual direction, the s. exercised through their example an effective encouragement to regular observance. But it went beyond the convents to spread among the whole people, over whom the s. exercised a broader and deeper influence. It was they who taught the faithful to raise their eyes above ritualism and formalism and to become accustomed to seeing God not only in ceremonies but also in the interior life. Humility and obedience are warmly recommended by the s.
There were in fact s. well before the 18th century, but their institution as a spiritual school founded upon the ascetic teaching of the Fathers and possessing its own methods and customs is due to Paissii Velickovskij (1722-94), who, following the example of s. Nilo Sorskiense, taught monks to esteem interior perfection and union with God more highly, so that, inwardly recollected and opposed to sin, they might combat temptations by means of enlightened and sanctifying prayer.