georgios modis was born in 1887 in monastir (modern bitola). he graduated from the gymnasium of monastir in 1906 and immediately joined the guerrilla group of the cretan georgios volanis who was active in the area of mariovo. he participated in many fights with bulgarian komitadjis and ottoman troops and was wounded in a battle with the ottoman army in besitsa, near mariovo. after his injury he abandoned the armed struggle and the internal organisation of monastir appointed him secretary in the metropolis of moglena and florina in 1909, where he served for a short time. then, he returned to monastir and was a reporter in the local newspaper "fos" ("light") that was published by the political club of monastir.