UKRAINIAN NATIONAL IDEA AT THE DECISIVE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN SOCIETY

The article analyzes the specifics of the Ukrainian Baroque era, which stimulated the formation of the Ukrainian nation and the Ukrainian national idea, which acted as a unity of "physical sword" and "spiritual sword". The historical mission of Ukrainian civilization at that time, which was closely connected with the Cossacks, who embodied the spirit of freedom, free individuality, protection of the homeland from external and internal enemies, is revealed. It is believed that the Zaporozhian Sich, as a spiritual component of the Cossacks, demonstrated not only the strength and power of the Cossack shablyuk, but also was an example of patriotism, courage, high moral virtues inherent in knights. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the educational activities of the fraternities and, above all, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as a fortress of spirituality. M. Drahomanov’s powerful contribution to the development of the Ukrainian national idea, which should be deeply connected with the history of the people, its mentality and traditions, has been studied. The significance of the role of the figure of Ivan Franko, who was one of the first in the Ukrainian political thought of the XIX-XX centuries to form the concept of the Ukrainian political nation as the main component of the national idea, is revealed.