One of Fteris' greatest and most memorable accomplishments is a song called "Horiata" (Η Χωριάτα – "Village Woman"). In the winter of 1941–42, the first bitter winter of the
German Occupation, he wrote an allegorical song and gave it to Sophia Vembo, most popular singer of the time and also family friend. She sang it in theaters all over Greece, each time wearing a dress with the national Greek colors on it. Even today, it is broadcast on national Greek radio stations. Commenting on the song over 35 years later one writer said, "It is a voice of hope and continuation. It resonated greatly in the hearts of the then enslaved people." In the song, Greece is represented as a village woman, and its youth as a budding tree. During the time period, all patriotic songs were forbidden by the
Nazis. Fteris knew this, and he wrote every verse of the song allegorically. His daughter said, "Each time it was sung, it electrified the audience. They heard the song and understood, so it gave them hope, and lifted them up emotionally. It scared the enemy, and it was like a threat." Many people loved Fteris' song, and its message spread throughout Greece. Theaters would continually play it. But soon after, the Nazis seized control. The song was prohibited, and theaters were closed. A penalty was set for singing the song, and Nazis even came to Fteris' home threatening him with arrest. Vembo continued to perform "Horiata" in her concerts in the Middle East and continued to inspire the
Greek resistance movement. Even though the song had been stifled in Greece, the damage had been done. The once tired and hopeless Greeks fought on throughout
World War II as the song says, "with new branches and limbs." Fteris died on his birthday in 1967 of
liver cancer. Today his body lies in his homeland, Mani. On the road connecting the towns of
Areopoli and
Gytheio, a monument has been dedicated to him on the summit of a hill overlooking his favorite land. Though he left the limitations of village life behind as a teenager, he always kept Mani in his heart. He once wrote, On his monument is a bust of his head sculpted by his friend Michael Tombros. On his shoulder, a woman representing Mani is weeping, mourning his death. His daughter Elyana said, "My father never wanted a monument because he was a very humble person, and he never believed in monuments; my mother insisted that he deserved one though." == Quote ==