hesychast
noun
hes·y·chast
-kast
plural -s
often capitalized
: one of an Eastern Orthodox ascetic sect of mystics originating among the monks of Mount Athos in the 14th century and practicing a quietistic method of contemplation for the purpose of attaining a beatific vision or similar mystical experience
Word History
Etymology
Middle Greek hēsychastēs, from Late Greek, quietist, hermit, Greek hēsychazein to be still, keep quiet, from hēsychos quiet; perhaps akin to Old English sīd long