In 1897, he volunteered for military service in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 where he would take part in the Battle of Velestino. He joined the Bulgarian IMRO, However, he would defect to the Greek side following his dissatisfaction with their treatment of the Greek population and an attempt on his life by a Komitadji. He would participate in the Ilinden Uprising of 1903 indpendent from the IMRO. In 1904, as a Makedonomachos, he would form one of the first organized armed groups with external Greek support in the Macedonian Struggle. He co-operated with Germanos Karavangelis, who brought him in contact with volunteers who had just arrived from Crete. He organized his own troop and inflicted many losses on the IMRO, most importantly the extermination of Voivoda Kirchev.