Oriental Orthodoxy in Uzbekistan

[1] Oriental Orthodox Christians in Uzbekistan are mainly ethnic Armenians, who are adherents of Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the main churches of Oriental Orthodoxy.

The first Armenian Oriental Orthodox church was opened in 1905, in Samarqand.

After the formation of the Soviet Union, Armenians became big contributors to the social and political life of Uzbekistan.

[2] After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many Armenians moved to mainly to Russia, Armenia and the United States.

During the Soviet Union era, they were closed; in 1995 a businessman from Samarqand of Armenian origin, Artur Martirosyan, donated to re-construct and re-open the church.

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I and Artur Martirosyan, who organized the restoration of the Oriental Orthodox Church in Samarqand (1996)