On the hill of Prophet Elias stands the statue of the black cavalryman, Hero of Heroes as he is remembered in history, Ioannis Velissariou, an officer of the Greek Army and hero of the Balkan Wars.

He distinguished himself in the Battle of Bizani, where the Greek victory was due to his determination, forcing the Ottoman army to surrender unconditionally.

He was a true hero, a rare officer with unparalleled courage, leadership qualities, and a deep knowledge of tactics. He was killed in the Battle of Kresna in 1913. King Constantine telegraphed his family instead of offering condolences with the words, “I salute the Hero of Heroes.”

Ioannis Velissariou emerged as one of the most significant figures in the Military History of modern Greece.

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