The article is devoted to the analysis of the place of theology in the education program of Russian state university. It is marked that during more than 15 years of theology presence at universities neither clericalism penetrate into the university education nor theology became nonconfessional discipline. It has been defined the causes of the difficulties of theology incorporation into the university education and research system. It is pointed that neither universities nor religious organizations participating in education programs of theology define the specifics of “the university theology”. The article defines the specifics and possibilities of theology development at state universities. Transference of the model of theological studies formed at seminaries and ecclesiastical academies to universities where education and research activity have the secular character will not be effective and expedient. The specific feature of the university theology, which determined its possibilities of development, is proposed to be considered through specification of its comparative and analytic character.
Keywords: education, religious denominations, Russian Orthodox Church, theology, university.