Makarios, << muh KAR ee uhs, >> III (1913-1977), a Greek Orthodox clergyman, became the first president of Cyprus in 1959. In July 1974, Cypriot troops led by Greek officers overthrew him, and he was forced to flee the country. He returned to Cyprus in December 1974 and served as president again until his death in 1977. While Makarios was out of office, Turkish troops took over a large part of northeastern Cyprus. See Cyprus (History) .
Makarios was elected bishop of Kitium in 1948. In 1950, he was elected archbishop and ethnarch (national leader) of the Greek Cypriots. He led the Greek Cypriot movement for independence from Britain and for enosis (union with Greece). Britain exiled Makarios to Seychelles in 1956 but freed him in 1957. He was elected president after Britain agreed to independence for Cyprus.
Archbishop Makarios was born in Pano Panayia, Cyprus. His real name was Michael Christodoulos Mouskos. He entered a monastery at age 13. He later studied at the National University of Athens in Greece. He also studied theology in the United States at Boston University.
