Where the Mountains Meet the Faith: Orthodoxy in Kyrgyzstan

When most people think of Kyrgyzstan, Orthodox Christianity is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Yet for more than a century, Orthodox Christians have maintained a presence in this predominantly Muslim country. Today, churches can be found serving communities closely connected to its Russian past. From the days of the Russian Empire, through the Soviet Union, to our current day, the Church has continued to persevere and fulfill its mission to the faithful.

As the Russian empire expanded into Central Asia during the 19th century, the need for building places of worship for themselves arose. The first sacred buildings would be temporary, and belonged to the military. As the Orthodox population grew, the Church began to establish a more organized structure in the region. In 1871 by decree of Alexander II, the diocese of Tashkent and Turkestan was established to bring administrative structure to the region. By 1917, more than 30 houses of worship had been established in what is now Kyrgyzstan.