Reference Type: Book
Author: Ipatiov, Filip
Year: 2001
Title: Rușii-Lipoveni din România. Studiu de geografie umană
Translated Title: [Russians-Lipovenians from Romania: Study of Human Geography]
City: Cluj-Napoca
Publisher: Presa Universitară Clujeana
Number of Pages: 220
Language: Romanian
Keywords: Lipovan-Russian minority, ethnography, sociology, history, demography, kin-state, migration ,culture, traditions, language use, language, ethnic voting, ethnic identity, religious identity, politics, everyday life, social groups, elites, education, settlement, dwelling, ethnic denomination, integration, assimilation, minority organizations, employment
Abstract: (En) Our approach has in view the study of an ethnical group whole presence in the actual space of Romania dated for more than a quarter of a millenium; namely the Russians-Li povenians. They are descendants of the people who disputed the religious reforms initiated by patriarch Nikon of Russia in 1654. Due to the persecutions they were subjected at by the tsarist authorities and by the official Russian Orthodox Church, many of them emigrated from Russia and a part of them settled down on the actual territory of Romania.
Though the official name used in our days for this ethnical group is "Russians-Lipovenians", the most part of its members are known as Lipovenians. This term certainly appeared in Romania (beginning with the 18th century, already) due to the fact that though they are present in other countries, too, and left Russia for the same reasons and approximately in the same period as others, they bear nowhere the name of Lipovenians, being simply called - Russians, though from a confessional point of view they are of old orthodox rite.
More evident preoccupations in the researches about the old rite generally appear beginning with the second half of the 19th century. Nadejdin N.I (1960), Kelsiev V.I. (1860-1862) or Subbotin N. I. (1867) are to be mentioned, followed by bishop Melchisedek (1871), Kaindl R. F. (1893, 1896), Danu D. (1894), Polek J. (1898), Nistor I. I. (1947). These authors are among the most important ones who wrote about the Lipovenians from Romania. As concerns the most recent studies, there could be mentioned names as Fenoghen S. (1998) and Mel'nikov F. E. (1999).
After the emancipation of Russia from Mongolian domination and its recognition by western powers, a well equipped and numerous army was needed, together with immense financial resources that had to determine the state appearance and also the maintaining of modern structures, that were scarcely outlined. The only source of incomes for this army was the land. The peasants were deprived by their rights, one after the other, in order to sustain the army, and their life became extremely difficult. However, all these factors did not determined the Russians to leave their native regions. The moment that unleashed the emigration coincided with the religious reformations initiated by patriarch Nikon.
In time and for certain regions of Russia, slight differences were to be observed in the orthodox ritual of the church. In order to maintain a centralised state, a unique religion was needed. The religious reformations had in view the uniformity of the ritual, and seizing the opportunity, a correlation with the whole Eastern orthodox ritual was also tried. Theoretically, the changes did not have a serious influence upon the orthodox dogma, they touched rather the form than the content, but the people did not agree with them. Another issue that displeased the most part of the population was the fact they were deprived of the right to choose themselves the priests from their midst.
Those who accepted Nikon's reforms were called "nikonians" or "new stylists" and their opponents were "raskolniks", that means schismatic. It is taken for granted that the church called "nikonian" by the old rite ones, being supported by the tsar as well, became the official Russian church, while the other one took the name of old rite orthodox church. We have to mention that, among them, the Schismatic called one another "starovertsy" and "starovery' (f old faith) or "staroobreadtsy"(of old rite). These denominations continued to be used till now. The repressive measure were extremely severe, most of those who hadn't accepted the reforms from the very beginning were forced by different means to do it later and persecution began for those who were against the reform. The repressive measures taken upon them were extremely drastic.
Their movement of protest devloped mainly in two forms: uprising and emigration. Several starovers who hadn'lbeen able to find their peace and bear the I church persecution, which became official, and also the one exercised by the tsar authorities, took refuge in foreign lands. Therefore, a part of those who resisted the nikonian reformation come to settle dowl on the actual territory of Romania.
Though there are a lot of suppoltions that justify the presence of the Slav factor in Dobrogea (region situated in the south-eastern part of Romania) even before the nikonian reformations, they ale not very well proved with documentary sources. Therefore, it is considered that the appearance of the Lipovenians in Romania must be related to events that took place after the religious reformation, more precisely beginning with the 18th century.
There is hardly anything known about the Russian regions from where the starovers came to Romania. Analysing the spoken language of Russian-Lipovenians from Romania, the specialists in Russian bring about a lot of common peculiarities that are specific for the southern velicorussian dialect, and the most documentary sources indicate the regions of Don and Kuban. On the other hand, while studying Lipovenians1 material and spiritual cultura one can notice the presence of some characteristics met in Moscow's area and jn its surroundings (Kostroma, Iaroslavl, Vladimir - at north - north-east, Reazan, Kaluga, Tula - at south - south-east), of others in central-eastern area of EuropeanlRussia (Orel, Voronej) as well as in the middle Volga area (Saratov) (Chirilă, F., 1993), All these facts lead us to conclude that initially, a part of the raskolniks from the mentioned regions sought to join the Cossacks from the Don region, in order tale more protected. When the tsar Peter tried to subject the Cossacks (1707 - 1708) they retreated in south, in Kuban region. Subsequently, the migrations in D6brogea began from these regions. After the reformation, a lot of religious centres appeared, too, which tried to maintain the old rite. Some of the information indicatelthat a part of the starovers (those who live in the north-eastern part of Romania) would derive from regions where these centres existed (especially Vetka, nowaday situated in the south-eastern part of Belarus state). At the last part of 18th century, apart of the starovers moved from Dobrogea to Bucovina that was in that period a part of Habsburg Empire.
It is unanimously appreciated that the spreading of people in the geographical areas that are now inhabited by Lipovenians took place during the 18th century and the areas inhabited in that century remained mostly the same with those peopled nowadays by the Lipovenian.
After the schism, those who dispuled the nikonian reforms had a rather agitated confessional evolution, developed in many directions. The first ones were in fact two: one called popovtsy (with pope), and the second ones bezpopovtsy (without pope). The first ones, popovtay, remained with the belief that the priesthood must be un integrant part of their spiritual life, while bezpopovftsy, perceiving the reforms of Nikon as an approach that contrary to the spiritof their old faith, initiated by those who represented the church. brought reproach upon all the clergy, rejecting it completely.The great majority of those who settled down in Romania belong to the first trend, of popovtsy.
At the end of the 17th century, popovtsy, remaining without popes, tried to attract them from the official church, imposing them the condition to return to the old rite. For this reason they began to be called beglopopovtsy, that means circumstantial priests. Later on, through the setting up of the Christian Metropolitan Church of Old Rite at the White Fountain (Bucovina) on 28th of October 1846, that belonged in that period to the Habsburg Empire, and nowadays to Ukraine, the communities with this confessional trend had the possibility to ordain priests in a constant way, becoming popovtsy (with priests) again The head of the metropolitan church who came to the fore was the former bishop of Bosnia - Ambrosie. A part of the starovers did not recognise the established hierarchy and began to be called bezpopovtsy - that means in opposition with those who had priests of White Fountain, but generally speaking, they practically maintained their statute of bezpopovtsy, due to the fact that no change intervened in their spiritual existence.
The starovers from Russia set up another orthodox hierarchy of old rite in 1923, at Novozybkov, at which adhered the beglopopovtsy from Romania, too, but only after the events from December 1989. Thus, the latter ones became popovtsy, too.
Nowadays, the great majority of Lipovenians from Romania are Orthodox Christians of old rite and they belong to the White Fountain hierarchy (at present - with headquarters at Braila, where it was moved in 1940, as a result of Ribbentrop-Molotov pact), and a small part of them I to the one of Novozybkov (Russia).
The Seat of the Old Rite Orthodox Church from Braila represents the spiritual centre of all old rite Christians that live outside the former URSS. They are also to be found in other countries of the world such as: SUA, Canada, Australia, Bulgaria etc., but their number is rather small. The most numerous ones are in Romania, where according to the official statistics, they almost reached to
Some sources use to label the Lipovenians as sectarians. As a response to this allegation, it should be mentioned that in keeping their old faith, this ethnical group loathed any deviation from the Christian Orthodox dogma, even less to tolerate the sectarian practices. For this reason we consider their association with Mystical sects totally wrong and groundlessly.
After the events from 1989, | when it was planed to set up a civic organisation to protect the interests of this ethnical group, the compromise name of Russian Lipovenians" it was chosen, due to the disagreements that appeared the founders members concerning the official name of the organisation, s name obligatory imposes the undifferentiated framing in this ethnical group of census bring about a much more increased weight, reaching to almost 90 %),
The most important zone, with the highest number of Russian-Lipovenian communities is situated in the south-eastern part of Romania. A second zone, clearly outlined, is situated in the north-eastern part of the country and represent* just a little more that 1/5 (23,3%) from the demographic size of the former one. The population of these communities is mostly rural (61,4 %), with a higher percentage in the south-eastern zone - 63 % and a more reduced percentage in the north-eastern area - 54,3 %.
The total population of Russian-Lipovenian communities that have been identified, in all - 44, comprise 36.392 inhabitants and represents 94,3 % from the entire number of the Russian-Lipovenians from Romania. The geographical average of this community is 827,1. The rest of 2.214 inhabitants who declared they belong to this ethnical group are extremely scattered in different regions and localities of the country. The last category was identified in 534 settlements, the average frequency of their appearance being of 4,1 Russian-Lipovenians/settlement.
There was to be observed that the spatial connection of the Russian-Lipovenian presence in Romania is often linked with the Danube Delta. The association that is made with this physical-geographical unit is totally wrong, due to the fact that the Russian-Lipovenians hold a rate of 11,2 % (1.670 inhabitants) in the Danube Delta, that is only 4,3 % from their whole number.
In those two mentioned areas, 44 communities of Russian-Lipovenians have been identified, and in 42 of them those who declared themselves Lipovenians hold officially the absolute majority, often displaying highly increased percentages (in 28 cases - exceeding 90 %, and in 8 situations reaching to -100 %).
From a linguistic point of view, the Russian-Lipovenians speaks Russian. Their language was marked by a lot of external influences (Ukrainian, Turkish-Tartar. Bulgarian, even German in Bucovina and especially Romanian) due to the fact they settled down on a territory with a foreign language and lost the contact with the common Russian language. The presence of these lexical elements makes the linguists to consider the Russian-Lipovenian language as that represented by Lipovenian idioms. The few phonetically or lexical variations do not hinder a proper communication between the Lipovenians who live in those two Romanian areas or even with Russians that live in the actual space of Russia.
In accordance with the official statistics, the Russian-Lipovenians from Romania preserved their maternal language in a proportion of almost 80 the difference being given by the number of those who speak Romanian. As in the case of the confession, a much better preservation of the maternal language is to be observed in the rural environment, where those who speak Russian exceed 90 %, as compared with their proportion in the urban environment, which decreases less than 2/3 from their whole number.
The analysis of the numerical evolution of the Russian-Lipovenian population is more difficult to be made on the basis of the official statistical data, due to the fact the values are sometimes slightly influenced by the different use of
the terms which refer to a certain ethnical group, on the one hand. and on the other hand, by identity dissimulation from more subjective but intricate causes. Nevertheless, at least in the last century, the tendency has been upward, but for the future, a change of its direction is to be foreseen, as a result of the analysis of the basic demographic indicators.
Thus the birth rate of the Russian-Lipovenian is generally characterised through slightly decreased values, as compared with other population fettled down in the same areas they occupy. After 1990, in the most frequent cases, the birth rate values registered accented decreases, diminishing less than 10 %. This demographic behaviour, with a decreased birth rate was specific for the last decades, when an evident tendency of re-dimensioning a family from a larger number of children to a more reduced one was to be observed. The conclusion is confirmed by the percentages registered by the young age groups belonging to the Russian Lipovenian population. The death rate of Russian-Lipovenians registered higher values than the one specific for the majority of population. One of the main causes of that indicator's way of manifestation is explained by a higher degree of ageing within the Russian-Lipovenian community.
A high natural increase cannot result from a decreased birth rate and an increased death rate, that's why it continues to register negative values from many years already. The fact that the Russian-Lipovenian population is on a demographic wane is very obvious. The both indicators of the natural movement of population are unpropitious in registering the real demographic increase. This fact could be proved at the proximate census of population.The evolution of infantile death rate follows a favourable tendency, of decreasing, which is placed at reasonable levels and has a reduced influence upon the general death rate.
The inner migration, excepting the last years, had a single direction - the transfer of population from villages to towns. In the last years, the social-economic conditions, influenced by the endless transition to a market economy, changed the sense of migration. A part of the people who settled down in towns are now willing to come back in the rural spaces they left before.
Re-emigration. This moment suits the period that followed the Second World War. A certain part of the population from Dobrogea communities was involved in this process, especially from Carcaliu, Jurilovca and Slava Rusa zones. However, the phenomenon was not ample.
It can be assessed that the Russian-Lipovenian population is framed within the limits of demographic laws, as concerns the structure on sexes, and presents a slight predominance of women, as compared with men. At present, the Russian-Lipovenians community displays a demographically aged population, but not in a very increased degree, the percentage of the old people outrunning with only 0,3 % the limit imposed by the framing in this category. A more important fact, viewed through the angle of other categories of people, young, respectively grown-ups, lead us to the conclusion that the population will not experience a demographic rejuvenation in the future, but on the contrary, the phenomenon of ageing could increase.
The structure of active population highlights a more increased occupancy the Russian-Lipovenian population in activitiesbelonging to the primary sector (agriculture, fishing), followed by employment in buildings and other physical activities.
Due to the fact their settlements arc situated near major hydrographic units (Danube. Black Sea) an important segment of population is busy in activity related to naval transport. The increased number of those who work in the army shows another surprising fact and it is firstly related to the names of some sportsmen (people who practice nautical sports - kayak-canoe) from Dinamo and Steaua Clubs and subsequently by their employment in activities with a military specific.
The Russian-Lipovenian settlements. In this category of settlements, only those in which the Russian-Lipovenian hold a great majority (at least 50 % from the total population of the locality) have been included, in accordance with the data taken from the last census of population. Though different figures are conveyed concerning the number of localities with a Russian-Lipovenian majority, 13 such settlements have been identified that meet the condition stated above, with the mention that all of them belong to the rural environment. The total population of these settlements sums up 22.583 inhabitants and the Russian-Lipovenians, who comprise 19.387 people, hold a percentage of 85,8 %.
If we relate the number of Russian-Lipovenian from all these settlements to their whole population from Romania (38.606 inhabitants) it comes out that exactly half of them (50,2 %) live in these settlements where they form a majority, the rest of them being present, in different percentages, both in rural settlements as in the urbane ones, beside with the Romanian population that holds the majority.
The most of Russian-Lipovenian villages - 7 of them - are framed in the category of large ones (over 1500 inhabitants) after the number of inhabitants. Excepting Brătești, all the others are in Dobrogea. As concerns the structure, we can assess that the Russian-Lipovenian villages from Dobrogea belong to the category of gathered ones, while those from Suceava Plateau are scattered, in the first region, the settlements with a regular form are prevalent, while in the settlements belonging to the second region, the geometrical elements or the regular forms are almost completely absent. The Russian-Lipovenian settlements from Dobrogea generally display a rectangular texture and in those from the north-eastern zone, the linear character is more evident. Generally speaking, the Russian-Lipovenian localities are mononuclear, but there are exceptions, too. They are given by two settlements from Moldavia, that is Brate§ti, respectively Manolea. The binuclear character of the last two localities is given by the spatial segregation ascertained by the presence of two ethnical groups (Russian-Lipovenians and Romanians), both of them in more balanced percentages.
The functions of those 13 Russian-Lipovenian settlements are differentiated from a case to another, but it can be appreciated that the settlements with a primary function (agricultural, especially for those situated in the north-eastern zone) are predominant. As regards the localities from Dobrogea, we can ascertain that the most of them, due to the fact they are placed in the neighbourhood of some important hydrographic units (Danube, Black Sea) are frequently involved in agricultural-fishing activities or in the mix function, generally determined by a higher occupancy in the transport (river or sea going).
The Russian-Lipovenian communities from settlements with a Romanian majority. The old Russian Lipoveniun communities from urbane settlements, in which the Lipovenians hold rather a small percentage, as compared to the whole population of the town, generally form small nucleuses (in the shape of smaller districts) in which these people are grouped. In the towns where the Russian - Lpovenian communities have been more recently set up (in general, after the two second world war) the presence of such nucleuses is not to be observed, the respective people being dispersed in more residential areas of the town.
The grouping nucleuses of the community members are even better highlighted in the rural settlements in which the Russian-Lipovenian communities pertain to a minority, both in the rural environment, as in the urbane one. The central places of the Russian-Lipovenian nucleuses are marked by the presence of the old rite (Lipovenian) Orthodox Church.
The architectural pile of a Russian-Lipovenian household is given by the orderly way of its arrangement, with an in-depth development, having a short side (8 - 12 m) placed at the street. The neighbourhood displays an orthogonal delimitation or one closely related to it. The perimeter in which the household is advancing has a rectangular form.
The way of household's organisation spotlights the dwelling (the proper house), placed at the street. The annexes are advancing in a secondary plane of the perimeter. Sometimes, a second courtyard could appear, from where the garden or/and the orchard begins. The bathroom (of sauna type) is an unfailing annex in a Lipovenian household.
The most important building for a Russian-Lipovenian community remains the church. The old rite orthodox Christian church (Lipovenian) has certain elements that are to be found in other orthodox churches, but also a lot of other specific features. Generally speaking, the form of the Lipovenian church is almost similar with that of the Orthodox Church, with the altar in a semicircular form, oriented towards east. A specific element that appears from the very beginning in a Lipovenian church is the presence of the cross with eight extremities (some people call it cross with eight corners). Another unique element, which is to be noticed, is a more wide side for the main spire, situated above the pronaos, where, in the vault arch of the spire, a very pronounced image of Jesus Pantocrator of a large size appears.
The costume is a distinctive element of every nation. It reflects on the material plane the spiritual universe of the individual and finally of the community he belongs to. In the case of Russian-Lipovenians, the costume represents the connection bridge among mystic, lay and past. The long clothes, their sobriety, the belt, the cover of the women's head are several elements imposed by the church and also a reflection of the mystic. The prevalence of strong colours speaks about the exuberance and joy observed in their life.
Generally speaking, the customs of the Russian-Lipovenians are related to or derive from religious aspects. The calendar they guide after in keeping their celebrations remained unchanged even up to our days, being unwedged with 13 days, m accordance with the Julian calendar. The attendance of the religious services on
Sunday or during the yearly celebrations set up an unwritten law among the members of the community.
Another Lipovenian custom that has been preserved till now, that arouse from their powerful religious faith, is that of making the sign of the cross before eating or drinking, actually in both cases and as often as they eat or drink. Therefore, the performing of Ihe cross sign accompanies almost any daily activity of the Lipovenian.
The traditional occupations of the Russian-Lipovenians are fishing, physical activities (diggers in agriculture, buildings and gardening. The great result obtained by Lipovenians in sports should also be mentioned. The sprotive branches in which the Russian-Lipovenians are outstanding are firstly the nautical ones - kayak and especially the canoe. The most representative name in this field remains that of multiple champion (international and Olympic) Ivan Patzaichin, at present the main trainer of the national group of Romania at kayak-canoe.
Ethnic behavioural specific features. The Russian-Lipovenian community displayed all the specific features of a closed ethnical group, beginning with approximately five decades ago. The marriages of the community members with partners who do not belong to their group were almost inconceivable. Anyway, the times are changing and the direct and unavoidable contact with other ethnical groups altered these conservative outlooks.
The information taken from dara of the last census (1992) spotlights the existence of almost 15 % ethnically mixed families, from the total number of family nucleuses, whose family head is a Russian-Lipovenian. Within an ethnical community with the size of the Russian-Lipovenian, which lives in a Romanian majority, with whom it permanently interacts, it is normal to find the highest percentage of mixed families in which one of the partners is a Romanian.
The electoral behaviour of the Russian-Lipovenian before the setting up of the communist political system generally shows a special sympathy for the formation that opposed the ruling party, but not so much for the opposition. After 1990, the essence of their behaviour within the interwar period changed. Given the situation displayed 70 years ago, it cannot be asserted that they generally agree with the opposition, preferring the social-democracy, indifferently if this formation was ruling or was to be found in the opposition. The fact is proved by their favourite orientation towards the political party formed around the actual president of Romania - Ion lliescu - in all the general election, indifferently of its name (FSN, FDSN, PDSR), for whom they generally voted for presidency.
In conclusion, the Russian-Lipovenian ethnical group on the whole displays traits of a partially closed community and they can be considered keepers of the traditional, spiritual and cultural values.

(Ro) Înainte de orice referire asupra frumoasei reuşite a autorului elaborarea studiului dc faţă, trebuie subliniat că întâiul merit şi câştig constă în accea că tema abordată se înscrie pentru prima dată în literatura geografică de specialitate, fapt care a impus eforturi dintre cele mai deosebite tub toate aspectele, chiar dacă acţiunea a fost realizată pe baza cunoaşterii nemijlocite de către autor a celor mai numeroase dintre caracteristicile comunităţii ruşilor-lipoveni prezente pe teritoriul României de câteva secole, unde s-a aşezat din motive foarte bine puse evidență pe parcursul întregului material.
Pentru a ajunge la elaborarea unei lucrări cu conținutul propus, aproape fără un model în această direcţie, autorul a procedat la investigarea atentă și profundă a literaturii existente, relativ modestă cantitativ şi în conținut, cuprizând doar unele aspecte de natură social-istorică, urmată de o amplă cercetare de teren, care i-a permis culegerea unui bogat material faptic sub toate aspectele, prelucrat li analizat în conformitate cu cerinţele, mijloacele şi metodele specific geografice această modalitate de acţiune fiind posibilă ca urmare a preocupărilor constante de profundă acumulare profesională în domeniul problemelor geodemografice și de habitat, a aspectelor sociale caracteristice comunităţii analizate etc.
Pe baza celor subliniate, cu seriozitatea şi minuţiozitatea-i cunoscută, autorul a reuşit elaborarea unui studiu de o deosebită valoare sub toate aspectele, astfel încât, în condiţia de generalizare a referirilor cu privire la realizarea de faţă, se poate afirma, cu toată certitudinea, că acesta întruneşte pe deplin cerinţele scopului propus: cuprinderea întregului complex de probleme geografice asupra comunităţii ruşilor-lipoveni din România, la care se adaugă, atâta cât a fost necesar, o seamă de aspecte istorice şi sociale de specificitate; în analiza temei este avută în vedere succesiunea logica solicitată de un asemenea demers, remarcându-se, de asemenea, conţinutul complex şi redarea ştiinţifica aleasă; însoţirea lucrării de un material cartografic bogat, foarte bine selecţionat şi realizat etc, toate cele subliniate urmărind şi permiţând, în acciaşi timp, desprinderea cu uşurinţă şt profunzime particularităţile acestei comunităţi din spaţiul românesc.
Caracteristica pregnantă de originalitate a studiului este pusă în evidenţi prin urmărirea cu o deosebită atenţie şi profesionalism a întregului complex de probleme geografico-umane ale ruşilor-lipoveni din România: repartiţia teritoriali şi identitatea acestora, evoluţia geodemografică, aşezările umane şi particularităţile etno-culturale de specificitate. Cu privire la repartiţia teritorială, este de sublimat că autorul a reuşit să surprindă, prin tot ceea ce a făcut, specificitățile esenţiale ale prezenţei ruşilor-lipoveni în spaţiul românesc, acest aspect fiind urmărit pnn identificarea tuturor localităţilor dc vieţuire a persoanelor comunităţii. după care a analizat, cu detalierea necesară, problematica comunităţilor individualizate din mediul rural şi urban, iar In legătură cu aspectul dc identitate s au urmărit caracteristicile confesională, etnică ai lingvistici.
Pe parcursul lucrării, o atenţie aparte a fost acordată evoluţiei geodemografice, generală şt individuală, insistându-se asupra componentelor dinamicii populaţiei, respectiv mişcarea naturală şi cea migratorie, în toate situaţiile analiza având în vedere contextul naţional şi de specificitate al ruşilor-lipoveni de pe teritoriul României. De asemenea, într-o condiţie de profundă investigare si elaborare, este redată componenta cu privire la aşezările umane, mai întâi fiind analizate aşezările ruso-lipoveneşti, unde se pun în evidenţă aspectele cu privire repartiţia geografică, tipologia dimensională, fizionomică şi funcţională a habitatului specific, după care sunt avute în vedere Comunităţile din aşezările cu populaţie majoritar românească, atât din mediul urban, cât şi din cel rural.
În privinţa conţinutului lucirii, aşa cum este normal să se procedeze în astfel de situaţii, autorul a insistat, în partea finală, asupra problemelor ce evidenţiază particularităţile etnografice, în acest context fiind redate, prin tot ceea ce este semnificaţiv pentru fiecare componentă în parte, aspectele în legătură cu ansamblul architectural, tradiţiile, ocupaţiile specifice şi particularităţile etno-comportamentale ale ruşilor-lipoveni din România.
Conţinutul bogat, bine scris structurat, însoţit de un excelent material cartografic, care permite o deosebită uşurinţă în lecturarea şi înţelegerea întregului complex de probleme analizate cu privire la comunitatea ruşilor-lipoveni din România, face din lucrarea (teză de doctorat) elaborată de către D-ul Filip Ipatiov, cadru didactic la Facultatea de Geografie a Universităţii „Babeş-Bolyai" din Cluj-Napoca, un model de cercetaM ţu privire la tema abordată, în acelaşi timp fiind de subliniat, de asemenea, modalitatea şi onestitatea ştiinţifică în care sunt prezentate toate problemele asupra unui subiect ce are în vedere una dintre minorităţile naţionale din cuprinsul spațiului românesc.