Since the Middle Ages, it has designated an official in a leadership position in a range of civic and social contexts throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
In reference to a municipality, a starosta was historically a senior royal administrative official, equivalent to a county sheriff or seneschal, and analogous to a gubernator.
[citation needed] In the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Starosta was from the 15th century the office of a territorial administrator, usually conferred on a local landowner and member of the nobility, Szlachta.
Also, this law introduced the concept of starosta okruhs (elderships)―the territory on which the starost is elected and over which his powers extend.
[14] Starosta is an official elected position in many Orthodox Christian churches, especially in Russia, Ukraine, and other Slavic-speaking countries.
[16] Though the position varies depending on the diocese and jurisdiction, the Starosta is generally responsible for housekeeping matters within the parish, facilitating logistics for services and cross processions, maintaining the physical church building and grounds, and ordering candles and other supplies for worship.