Abstract. The meaning of the famous words about Pushkin, usually quoted only as a formula belonging to the «seekers of the absolute», the creator of «organic criticism» A.A. Grigoriev, being considered in a full text volume, is revealed in its archetypal depth as the ideal-testament of the great poet to Russian self-consciousness, «the most sacred and greatest cause» of the people. The author of the article notes the most important features of the «Russian national essence»: the soul as the highest value, the priority of truth, the iconic nature of world perception, the sacred - the main thing in life.

Keywords: ideal-testament, Russian self-awareness, soul, highest value, spiritual archetypes, A.S.Pushkin, A.A.Grigoriev, P.E.Astafiev, I.A.Ilyin, Russian philosophy.