Zosima, starets or elder
Audio text — Zosima, starets Zosima — Зосима, старец Зосима
Zosima is his name, taken at the monastery when he became an elder. We learn about his biography later in the novel.
At the time of events, he is 65 years old, ill and weak.
Alexei Karamazov decided to stay at the Kozelsk Optina Monastery, becoming Zosima's disciple, as he considers him a saint capable of performing miracles, especially the miracle of healing.
Zosima lives in the monastery's hermitage — this is where the action of the second book will take place.