Yes, this is a legitimate word. According to WikiAnswers and my very very limited knowledge of Greek, it means a guide or one who conducts strangers. A seemingly pedantic term known only to a few, it however can be a jumping off point to some fascinating ideas. To conduct strangers along their way, to step out of your own comfort zone and give aid not to your friends and family, but to those you don’t even know. One who guides strangers must have both great trust in their fellow man, and great wisdom of their fellow man. To guide someone, you are setting yourself up in a position of knowledge over them; you are saying “I know the way, you do not, so let me help you.” This takes a certain amount of audacity towards strangers, unless the xenagogue has a great understanding of human kind. Guiding a stranger takes courage, wisdom, and above all, love. To lead your friends and instruct and aid them, takes no great virtue, for most people would be willing to help their friends. But to lend aid to strangers, to offer to lead those whom you don’t even know, this is a loving service.
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