one of a sect of mystics that originated in the 14th century among the monks on Mt. Athos, Greece.
Origin: 1825–35; < ML hesychasta < Gk hēsychasts a recluse, equiv. to hēsycház(ein) to be quiet, be still (v. deriv. of hsychos quiet, still) + -tēs agent suffix
[hes-i-kast] 
s a recluse, equiv. to hēsycház(ein) to be quiet, be still (v. deriv. of h