ABSTRACT
The Second World War brought an end to Greater Romania which was formed in 1918. The territories of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina were incorporated into the Soviet Union and Southern Dobrodja became part of Bulgaria. From 23 August 1944, when King Michael engaged the country in the Allied war against Germany, Soviet troops were stationed in the country. Subsequently, under the military and political pressure of the Soviet Union, Romania was set on the communist path which lasted from 30 December 1947 until 22 December 1989. Romania was a predominantly agrarian society and the new communist
regime had to take into account the influence of religious communities. In the interwar period, the patriarch was three times prime minister while a significant proportion of the clergy was active in political affairs. A Romanian way of dealing with religion remained dominant throughout the Cold War. The Romanian Orthodox Church (RomOC), the main religious confession, collaborated closely with the regime and did not face widespread religious persecution. Religious communities were controlled by the state while, at a local level, religiosity was associated with the preservation of national identity.
