1. The female superior or abbess of a convent or monastery in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Usage: religious; Eastern Orthodox; also spelled 'hegumena'

Examples

• The hegumene oversaw the daily spiritual practices of the convent.
• In Eastern Orthodox tradition, the hegumene holds significant authority within the monastic community.
• The hegumene was responsible for the education and welfare of the younger nuns.
• She was elected hegumene after decades of devoted service to the monastery.