Skip to main content

Eurasianet

Main Menu

  • Regions
  • Topics
  • Media
  • About
  • Search
  • Newsletter
  • русский
  • Support us
X

Caucasus

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia

Central Asia

Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Conflict Zones

Abkhazia
Nagorno Karabakh
South Ossetia
Transnistria

Eastern Europe

Belarus
Moldova
Russia
The Baltics
Ukraine

Eurasian Fringe

Afghanistan
China
EU
Iran
Mongolia
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
X

Arts and Culture

Economy

Politics

Kazakhstan 2022 unrest
Kyrgyzstan 2020 unrest

Security

Society

American diplomats in Central Asia
Coronavirus
X

Visual Stories

Audio
Video

Blogs

Tamada Tales
The Bug Pit

Podcasts

Expert Opinions
The Central Asianist
X
You can search using keywords to narrow down the list.
Tajikistan, Central Asia

Tajikistan’s tiny Orthodox community celebrates Christmas

The congregation held a midnight service, with troops from the Russian base standing guard.

Photos by Nozim Kalandarov Jan 8, 2019
Candles

The Orthodox Christian community in Tajikistan is considered the smallest in Central Asia, with a parish of only around 500. Serving this dwindling community are six churches – in the capital, Dushanbe, in the largest city in the north, Khujand, in the towns of Bokhtar, Tursunzoda and Buston, and on the territory of Russia’s 201st military base outside Dushanbe. There is also a little chapel in Nurek. 

02

At Dushanbe’s St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Christmas service led by Bishop Pitirim began at midnight and ended at 3 a.m. on January 7. Troops from the 201st base stood guard as the congregation, mainly old people living in Dushanbe, prayed within. After services concluded, elderly parishioners were taken home in a special bus.

03

Tajikistan’s Russian community dwindled after the country gained independence following the Soviet Union’s 1991 collapse and the ensuing civil war. In the last Soviet census, in 1989, about 8 percent of Tajikistan’s population was ethnically Russian. By 2010, Russians officially comprised one-half of 1 percent. 

04

Built in 1943, as Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin eased restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church amid World War II, St. Nicholas was in a state of disrepair when Pitirim arrived in 2012. Today, it is only just able to support itself with donations from the local community. 

05

Communion at the Christmas service. 

06

A woman lights a candle at the Christmas service

07

Blessing the congregation

09

Nozim Kalandarov is a photographer based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

 

Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter.

Nozim Kalandarov is a photographer based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Sign up for Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter. Support Eurasianet: Help keep our journalism open to all, and influenced by none.

Related

As Kyrgyzstan officials convey mixed messages on food security, farmers struggle on
Uzbekistan: China comes bearing gifts
Kazakhstan: Officials upbeat on irrigation water supply, farmers less sure

Popular

Do Georgians work too much, or too little?
Nini Gabritchidze
Kyrgyzstan’s big-dollar deal with newbie Chinese company raises questions
As Kyrgyzstan officials convey mixed messages on food security, farmers struggle on
Bakyt Ibraimov

Eurasianet

  • About
  • Team
  • Contribute
  • Republishing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
Eurasianet © 2022