Word: ethnarchs
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...difficult to live with him were suddenly so worried about living without him. But this was not surprising: Makarios has been the hub of Cyprus' political ambiguities ever since he was elected archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus in 1950 and assumed the traditional title of ethnarch (literally ethnic or national leader). Like a medieval Pope, the ethnarch is both a secular and religious leader. Makarios practiced the politics but preferred the spiritual title. He wanted to be addressed formally as "Your Beatitude...
Makarios' concern for his flock was always political. He once said: "I would consort with the devil himself if it would keep Cyprus and its people independent." In 1956, as the fighting peaked between the British army and the Cypriots, Anthony Eden's government accused the ethnarch of fomenting rebellion and exiled him to the remote Seychelles Islands 3,000 miles from home. But when the British gave up the fight three years later, Makarios was elected President of the newly independent Republic of Cyprus...
...bishops' action was curiously delayed; it has been more than twelve years, after all, since the bearded ethnarch was first elected President. Suspecting with good reason that the Greek government had put the bishops up to their protest, Cypriot Greeks responded riotously. In Paphos, capital of the district where Makarios was born, scores of cassocked priests seized the office of Gennadios, one of the three bishops involved, and declared that they were no longer loyal to him. Gennadios had wisely stayed in the bishopric of Kitium in Limassol as a guest of Bishop Anthimos. But there too, crowds beat...
...Greek community politically as well as spiritually. Makarios at once plunged into the enosis movement, calling for union of Cyprus with Greece, and staged an island-wide plebiscite in which Greek Cypriots voted 97% for enosis. In 1950 Makarios was elected Archbishop of Cyprus and simultaneously became Ethnarch, that is, leader of his people. He founded a militant youth group, which grew into the terrorist EOKA, and fought a savage four-year struggle against the British garrison. Arrested and exiled to the remote Seychelles Islands for a year, Makarios returned in triumph...
...ethnarch made one campaign speech condemning "modern hypocrites and Pharisees," and said loftily, "I am the least interested man in these elections." Makarios knew he would finish well out front. The bulk of Loser Clerides' strength was Communist. In the elections for Cyprus' first Parliament, to take place within the next month, the Communists are likely to stand as the only important opposition voice on the island...