South of the village of Psari, perched like an eagle's nest on the rocks that surround the eastern borders of the Stymphalian Valley, lies the small chapel of Saint Theodore, also known as Ayios Thodoras. This tiny chapel, nestled in a crevice of the rock, was built at an unspecified time, possibly by shepherds from the surrounding area. However, it holds a significant history, marking a victory as unexpected as it was decisive during the Greek War of Independence.
In July 1826, Ibrahim Pasha arrived in Stymphalia, plundering, burning, and destroying everything: men, women, children, churches, crops, animals, villages, sheepfolds, and pastures. The civilian population of Psari, desperate, took the difficult path to the peak of Stavraetos, and about halfway through the journey, they veered sharply to the rock, to the chapel of Saint Theodore and the caves surrounding it.
The inhabitants of the village of Kalliani followed the same path through the plain, as recorded by Fotakos in his memoirs. For three days, Ibrahim attempted in various ways to burn down the chapel and the people hiding in the caves. For three days, he stood opposite the rock, trying to capture the "eagle nests" of the Greeks, as Fotakos describes. No external help came for the women and children, as the Corinthian captains were at that time in Vohia. For three days, women, children, and the elderly fiercely resisted, rolling rocks and large stones down on the attacking Turks.
On the third day, Panagiotis Kaklamanos, in a lone and almost suicidal charge into the Turkish lines, led several of Ibrahim's soldiers into an ambush, causing the Egyptian Pasha to retreat in fear and order his troops to withdraw to Tripolitsa, leaving the Stymphalians in peace!
The chapel of Saint Theodore is now accessible after a 1.5-hour hike along a trail that starts from Psari. It undoubtedly offers a unique experience for visitors who, beyond the physical activity, seek to rejuvenate their soul in historical memory and venerate the indomitable spirit of their ancestors!
