The dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the result
of deep economic and political contradictions which socialism could not
resolve without democracy, human rights and a market economy. In addition,
many foreign factors contributed also to the process of dismemberment of
the country. The turning point took place in January 1990 when the XIV
Congress of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia led to political transition
and a reconsideration of the position of Macedonia in the federation. This
political process was paralleled by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC)
strengthening its jurisdictional claims over the Macedonian Orthodox Church
(MOC). During the post-1990 period the MOC became an integrative part of
the social and political life of the Republic of Macedonia. This chapter focuses
on the activity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church after the country’s
political independence and discusses relations between the MOC with the
SOC and other religious communities in the Republic of Macedonia
