Crossword Genius

Pasty-faced saint in eastern land (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

palestine

'land' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Holy Land' mean 'palestine' so perhaps 'land' could also mean 'palestine')

'pasty-faced saint in eastern' is the wordplay.
'pasty-faced' becomes 'pale'.
'saint' becomes 'st'.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'pale'+'st'+'in'+'e'='PALESTINE'

(Other definitions for palestine that I've seen before include "territory under dispute" , "Region deriving its name from the Philistines" , "in the Middle East" , "Middle-East area" , "The historic Holy Land in neat piles" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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