PRESIDENT ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS III (CYPRUS) - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED - HFSID 174911

ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS III
The political and religious leader of Cyprus signs his name in red ink
Commemorative envelope signed: "Makarios of Cyprus" as President of Cyprus in red ink. 6½x3½. 5-cent U.S. Christmas stamp affixed, postmarked Detroit, Michigan, December 3, 1966. Cyprus stamp affixed at left margin. Addressed by typewriter to a collector in Detroit. Makarios III (1913-1977) was the archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus, was their leader in the country's struggle for union with Greece during postwar British occupation, and was the first President of the newly-independent Cyprus from 1959 until his death in 1977. Makarios was born the son of a poor shepherd, but went on to study at the University of Athens and eventually at the School of Theology at Boston University; he was ordained in 1946 and within four years was named Archbishop of Cyprus. It was during this time that his name became synonymous with the "enosis" or union movement, and since the archbishop traditionally played an important political role on the Mediterranean island, he often represented his spiritual followers in talks with the British government about possible Commonwealth status and with pressures from Turkey to partition off the country's Turkish population. In February 1954 Makarios met with the Greek Prime Minister, Alexandros Papagos, which won Greek support for a possible union; British forces in Cyprus were wary of his possible involvement with the guerrilla movement EOKA, as well as opposed to any union with Greece, and therefore charged Makarios with sedition and exiled him. Eventually he was allowed to return and settled with the British governor with the compromise of Cyprus independence, and he was elected President on December 13, 1959 (importantly, with a Turkish Vice President). His Presidency is best remembered for the fighting between Cypriot Greeks and Turks, which resulted in an active intervention by both Greece and Turkey in 1963; although Makarios had originally championed only Greek interest, as President he worked hard for the integration of both communities. The rest of Markarios' Presidency was subject to further tension, including the forced acceptance of the Turkish Cypriot Provisional Administration (which managed Turkish minority affairs outside the jurisdiction of the central government) and a 1974 attempted coup which Turkey invaded the island and forced a partition for Turkish Cypriots in the north. Ink note in unknown hand on verso (no show through). Lightly creased and soiled. Overall, fine condition, with large, bold signature.