Russian Orthodox Church in Uzbekistan

The Russian Orthodox Church is the main group of Eastern Orthodoxy in Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim country. Many of its members are Russians. Uzbekistan falls within the area of Tashkent and Central Asian Eparchy, which is headed by an archbishop. It has been established in 1871 and extends to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. There are Russian Orthodox cathedrals in Tashkent and Samarkand. Uzbekistan has thirteen Russian Orthodox Churches, three of which are in Ashgabat. The Russian Orthodox Church has a better standing with the government than other religious groups do. The Uzbek government claims to be secular.