“We have a Fatherland”: brothers Ivan and Peter Kireyevsky about Russia

The article deals with a religious philosopher, literary man I. V. Kireyevsky (1806-1856) and his brother P. V. Kireyevsky (1808-1856) who is a historian, connoisseur of Russian folk culture. The author considers the brothers’ attitude to Ancient and contemporary Russia, shows the importance of their work for Russian society. At the time when impiety conquered the minds of the educated and Orthodoxy was identified with ignorance the Kireyevsky brothers were adamant in their belief through life and doings. I. V. Kireyevsky summarized philosophic knowledge of contemporary times and made the first attempt to base philosophy on Christian principles. Much was done for the popular schooling with intention to make education worth the notion of true enlightenment. Having been collecting and studying folk poetry for many long years P. V. Kireyevsky didn’t have enough time to finish the most important work of his life that is to publish gathered materials. Only tiny part of his vast collection got into print in his lifetime. Since mid 1840s till the end of their lives the Kireyevsky brothers were engaged in Optina book publishing. Secular «Optintsy» as I. M. Kontsevich called them Ivan and Peter Kireyevsky were buried next to the altar wall of Presentation Cathedral in Optina Pustyn.