August 13, 1913: Birth of Archbishop Makarios IIItranslated

On August 13, 1913, Michael Mouskos was born in Panagia, Paphos, who was to become the Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III (1950-1977) and the first president of the Republic of Cyprus (1960-1977). Michael was the first child of shepherd Christodoulos Mouskos and Eleni Athanasios, who died when Michael was eleven years old. In 1926, after graduating with honors from elementary school, Michael was admitted as a cadet to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Kykkos, where a three-grade high school operated. In 1933, he received a scholarship from the Monastery to study at the Pancypriot High School, from where he graduated in 1936 with the grade of "Pany Kalῶs".

In August 1938 he was ordained a deacon, taking the name Makarios. The following month he went to Athens to study at the Theological School, also with a scholarship from the Kykkos Monastery.

His graduation in 1942 was followed by two years of study at the Law School. From 1941 to 1946 Makarios served as a deacon at the Holy Church of Agia Irini in Athens. In 1946, he was ordained an elder, ordained an Archimandrite and appointed head of the Holy Church of Agia Paraskevi Kallipoleos in Piraeus.

In the same year, Makarios secured, through a competition,...