TOMB OF MAKARIOS III

This tomb (Τάφος Μακαρίου Γ/Tafos Makariou G) enjoys a superb location, close to the peak known as the "Virgin's Throne" (Θρονί της Παναγίας/Throni tis Panagias), which reaches 1,450 m above sea level. It houses the remains of Mihail Christodoulou Mouskos (1913-1977), who was a novice at Kykkos Monastery (1926-1933), Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus under the name of Makarios III (1950-1977) and the first President of the Republic of Cyprus (1960-1977). Beneath a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary dating from 1935, the ground was dug out in 1977 to accommodate the archbishop-president's tomb. In the vaulted stone room, the black marble block is permanently guarded by an armed soldier. In the surrounding area, trees and bushes bear pieces of cloth that some visitors tie to the branches as a sign of devotion. Paved paths lead to several bronze statues, including the 1987 statue of Makarios III. Nicknamed "The Colossus" or "Big Mak", this 9.5 m high statue is the most famous work by Cypriot artist Nikolaos Kotziamanis, born in 1946. Originally installed in the Archbishop's Palace in Nicosia, it was moved here in 2008, to a spot that Makarios III particularly appreciated. It's also possible to climb up to the "Throne of the Virgin", where a gleaming octagonal church has stood since 2011. All this decorum is very kitsch, but the views over the great forests of the Troodos are well worth the effort.