After the war, Yugoslavia saw phases of implementing communist ideology and eliminating opponents. Initially, there was a period of revolutionary terror, marked by indiscriminate killings. The SOC initially had cordial meetings with Communists but became victims of repression later, especially after the split with the Soviet Union in 1948. The regime intensified its aggression against religious communities, accusing SOC bishops of undermining the country's order. There were arrests, expulsions of priests, and restrictions on religious practices. The following period, around 1950-1953, shifted from overt repression to propaganda, focusing on mythologizing political leaders. The death of Patriarch Gavrilo in 1950 led to increased government repression against the SOC, worsening their strained relationship. The relationship between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the WCC, along with its member churches, involved exchanges of visits, letters, news, and religious materials. Importantly, the WCC and Lutheran World Relief provided material aid to the Serbian Orthodox Church and selected Protestant communities in Yugoslavia.
Taizé et al. (Sun,) studied this question.