Europe miscellanea

Makarios III (1913-1977) was born Michael Mouskos on 13 August 1931 at Ano Panayia near Paphos, Cyprus. He was educated at the monastery of Kykko and the Pan-Cypriot high school in Nicosia, and was ordained deacon in 1938, taking the name of Makarios. After studying theology and law at Athens University he was ordained priest in 1946, and became a scholar at Massachusetts University. In 1948 he was elected Bishop of Kition. Makarios became a member of the Cypriot Ethnarchy, and promoted the union of Cyprus with Greece. He was made Archbishop of Cyprus in 1950, but was deported by Britain to the Seychelles in March 1956 for his intransigence over the union issue. In 1958 Makarios agreed to accept the independence of Cyprus, and in 1959 he became President of the new republic, which was inaugurated in August 1960. Despite the renewal of communal violence from 1963, Makarios was re-elected President in 1968 and 1973. However, he was forced to leave the country in July 1974, following an attack on his residence. Makarios returned to Cyprus in December 1974 after Turkey occupied the island and removed the Greek dictatorship that had been established in his absence. He died on 3 August 1977 at Nicosia with Turkey still in possession of large parts of the country.

Six of Archbishop Makarios' personal coloured Christmas cards in envelopes, sent to Miss Elsa Spencer. The cards depict Nativity scenes taken from Cypriot wall paintings.

Presented by Miss Elsa Spencer, October 1977.

The R.C.S. Manuscripts Collection includes a letter from Makarios III, RCMS 22/12/1, acknowledging the receipt of the R.C.S. 'Biography catalogue'. The R.C.S. Photograph Collection includes photographs of Makarios III (see Y3018H and Y3018J).

MSS Addenda, vol. I. Indexed