69 years ago today, on March 9, 1956 (January 27, 1956 in the lunar calendar), the Greek archbishop was expelled from Cyprus by the British side. Rebel Archbishop Makarios On March 9, 1956, British officials in Cyprus arrested and expelled Greek Archbishop Makarios with lightning speed. He is accused of supporting terrorists in the Cyprus movement for independence. Several other Greek church officials were also arrested. As soon as the news spread, an explosion occurred in Cyprus and British patrols were attacked. Britain deployed 50,000 soldiers and police on the island. In Athens, groups of citizens protested against British actions. Greece recalls its ambassador to Britain. The opposition party, the Labour Party, criticized the government for not arresting Makarios when he was preparing to fly to Athens. The party warned that the action would damage relations with Greece. Makarios later became the first president of Cyprus after independence.