Makarios I

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Makarios I was Archbishop of Cyprus from 1854 until 1865.

Makarios, whose surname in the world was Christodoulidis, was born in Prodromos, Lemesos province, Cyprus. He was ordained Archbishop on August 26, 1854 succeeding the previous Archbishop Kyrillos I who had died a month before.

Makarios was instrumental in the establishment of many schools throughout rural Cyprus to combat illiteracy which was rife among the populace. He sought to have the tax burden eased on his flock by writing to the Grand Vizier in Istanbul who was himself a Cypriot.

Makarios died in Lefkosia on August 4, 1865 from cholera, after refusing to leave the city when an epidemic broke out.