Makarios II

Makarios II was Archbishop of Cyprus from 1948 until 1950.

Makarios was born in Prodromos, Lemesos province, in 1870. He studied at the Great School of the Nation in Istanbul before entering the Theological Seminary of Chalki. On March 20, 1917, he was elected Archbishop of Kyrenia.

After the disturbances of 1931, Makarios was exiled by the British. He returned after World War II.

He was elected Archbishop of Cyprus, without opposition, on December 24, 1947, despite the opposition of the political left for his staunch pro-Enosis stand. To this end Makarios came up with the idea of a Church-held referendum throughout Cyprus in January, 1950 which showed that 97% of the electorate favoured Enosis.

He died on June 28, 1950 and was succeeded by Makarios III - the future President.