Makarios II of Cyprus

Makarios II (1870 – June 28, 1950) was Archbishop of Cyprus from 1947 until 1950. He was born Michail Charalambous Papaioannou in the village of Prodromos in 1870. In 1895, he was ordained a deacon and left Cyprus for further education. He studied at the Great School of the Nation in Constantinople before entering the Halki seminary.

In 1912, he enlisted in the Hellenic Army and served as chaplain during the Balkan Wars. On March 20, 1917, he was elected Bishop of Kyrenia.

After the disturbances of October 1931, Makarios was exiled by the British administration. He remained in Pangrati, Athens during World War II and returned to Cyprus on December 22, 1946.

Makarios II was elected Archbishop of Cyprus, without an opponent, on December 24, 1947. He died on June 28, 1950 and was succeeded by Makarios III.