The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of J. Rusen’s theory of historical consciousness. It is one of the most widespread theories in modern foreign philosophy and theory of history. It emphasizes that J. Rusen’s studies of the essence, structure, transformation processes and social functions of historical consciousness should be considered in the context of the idea of rehabilitation of the modern in present foreign philosophy and the searches of the synthesis of the achievements of narrative and hermeneutic philosophy of history.