We have already observed that the Lipowanians, or Philippowanians, form a particular class of the inhabitants of Bukowina. They belong to the Russian Raskolniks, and to the not united Greek church. They removed about the year 1785, from the Black Sea into the Bukowina, and obtained of the emperor Joseph II. the free exercise of their religion. They are a peaceable, industrious and active people, addicted to agriculture, and partly subsist by the sale of fresh and dried fruit, fish, and cordage of their own manufacture. They are extremely skilful in draining wet, marshy lands, inhabit three villages, and are among the different sects of the eastern church what the Moravians are among the Protestants.
UNMARRIED FEMALE of JACKOBERG.
FEMALE PEASANTS of PHILLIPPOWAN.
The appearance of the Philippowanians produces an agreeable impression on the stranger. They are in general tall and well-shaped, and both sexes usually wear long cloth coats carefully buttoned from top to bottom. The women have stiff caps over which they tie a large handkerchief. A bandeau embroidered with gold encircles the forehead. The gown, without sleeves, is either green or red, bound round the waist with a sash, and the feet are covered with red or yellow buskins. The annexed engraving represents two females of this district, and displays the front and back of their rich dress, which bears a strong affinity to the Ottoman costume; the only features seemingly peculiar to the subjects before us being the ornamented shift sleeves.
The Lipowanians have but little intercourse with the other inhabitants of the country: at least, if they can help it they will not admit strangers into their habitations. Should a person, nevertheless, have obtained access through accident or against their will, they consider the spot where he has sat or stood as contaminated till they have purified it in their own way. They never eat with any stranger. They have particular plates, vessels, and utensils for guests, and when they entertain a person they press him to eat all that is set before him, or throw away what is left. They are forbidden to use tobacco and snuff, and suffer no inn or public house to be kept among them.
It is surprising with what care these people keep both the ceremonies and the doctrines of their religion profoundly secret. They have no priests but only a teacher called daskal: they acknowledge the authority of no oriental ecclesiastic, but profess to belong to a church of their sect in Moldavia, where all their marriages are solemnized. No traces of burial-grounds are to be found among them, and hence it is conjectured that they burn their dead. Their churches in Moldavia are in all respects like the other churches of the East, excepting that they are surmounted by three triple crosses, the lowest cross-bar of which is placed in an oblique direction.
The Philippowanians are said to have derived their name from one Philip, who was first servitor in a Russian convent, then became a monk, and aspired to the rank of superior. Being disappointed in this scheme, he accused his brethren of having swerved from the ancient faith; and having made proselytes of about fifty of his colleagues, he seceded from the convent, built another, and thus became the founder of a new sect.