1. The office, rank, or authority of a hegumen (the abbot or superior of a monastery in the Eastern Orthodox Church).
Usage: religious; Eastern Orthodox Christianity; formal
2. A monastery or convent governed by a hegumen.
Usage: religious; Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Examples

• He was appointed to the hegumeny after decades of monastic service.
• The hegumeny maintained strict adherence to Orthodox traditions.
• The bishop oversaw several hegumenies in the region.
• She entered the hegumeny as a novice nun.
• The hegumeny's library contained ancient theological manuscripts.