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. [1] It has been established in 1871 and extends to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. [2] There are Russian Orthodox cathedrals in Tashkent and Samarkand. [3] Uzbekistan has thirteen Russian Orthodox Churches, three of which are in Ashgabat. [4] [5] The Russian Orthodox Church has a better standing with the government than other religious groups do. [6] The Uzbek government claims to be secular. [7]