This is one of the oldest folk songs and recorded in a written form for the first time in 1824 by the French historian and traveler Claude Fauriel. It is a song with a heroic character informing us about the lives of the Klephts and the Armatoloi. It refers to their activities in the area of Valtos in southern Pindos. The mountains of Valtos, Makrynoros and the Acarnanian Mountains, became a refuge and a base for the launch of the attacks of the klephtic arms.

A customary wish during those times was “(I wish you to) Become a klepht in Agrafa and an armatolos in Valtos”. In the area of Valtos and Agrafa, many renowned klephts and armatoloi operated, like Katsantonis, Gogos Bakolas, Boukouvalas, Iskos (who raised young Karaiskakis as an errand boy), and others.

There, the klephts were breathing the air of freedom. Not only were they not submitting but they were even threatening the Katis (the Turkish ruler) of Arta that they would burn its villages, where many rich Turkish estates were located.

“…προσκυνούνε τον Δεσπότη…”, meaning “they are worshipping the Master”. Heroism, battles, hard life, but also faith in Jesus Christ and respect to the Mother Church, as the most foundational element of the national consciousness. Many folk songs reveal this deep relationship of the Church with her children.