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Diver Who Snagged Epiphany Cross Is 5th In His Family

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Pantelis Kontodiakos retrieved the Epiphany cross from Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs Tuesday.

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

Updated: 01/06/2009 02:19 pm

TARPON SPRINGS - The Epiphany cross and its year of blessings went to a 17-year-old athlete already blessed with exceptional talent.

He's also the fifth in his family to snatch the cross from Spring Bayou.

"It's not luck," said Pantelis "Pete" J. Kontodiakos, a senior at Countryside High School. "I'm blessed. I have a great family."

Kontodiakos was ranked the nation's No. 1 high school punter by College Football Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy, said his dad, John, and he was named to USA Today's All-America team.

As well-wishers chanted "Pete! Pete!" while slapping his soggy T-shirt and kissing his cheeks and the cross he held, the teen grinned.

"It feels great," he said. "I'm very happy."

John Kontodiakos who, like his son, has the unusual distinction of being a redheaded Greek, retrieved the Epiphany cross in 1979.

"It brought me huge good luck," the 52-year-old said.

That year, he won a football scholarship to the University of Miami, where he met his future wife and Pete's mom, Argie.

John Kontodiakos' brother Pete snared it in 1969, brother Nick in 1973, and brother Manuel in 1976.

The dive — or jump, due to a low tide — wasn't without mishaps.

After spring-side prayers by Archbishop Demetrios, 65 teenagers made a dash to the 11 boats moored in Spring Bayou. Most aimed for the closest boats, quickly filling one that began sinking, then flipped. They had to abandon it for boats moored farther away.

As they perched on the gunwales, the archbishop continued to speak and finally dropped the cross into the chill water, igniting an explosion of splashing bodies.

The annual dive, a sacred rite of passage for Greek Orthodox boys ages 16 to 18, usually draws 45 to 55 participants, said Michael Kouskoutis, co-chairman of the dive.

It's a rite that's growing in popularity. More Greek Orthodox churches – six from Brooksville to Clearwater -- had divers participating, he said.

The boy who retrieves the cross thrown by Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is said to be blessed for the rest of the year.

"People keep asking me if some big miracle happens," said Christopher Kavouklis, 19, who was a Jesuit High School senior in 2008 when he reigned triumphant.

There's no miracle; you're just blessed, he said.

"I have a nice family, I'm healthy, and I have a nice house."

There's no way to prepare for the dive, he said.

"People don't swim in the bayou; it's protected because of manatees."

But Kouskoutis, who has been dive co-chairman for 22 years, said in Tarpon Springs, little boys including his own 13-year-old grow up playing "dive for the cross" in swimming pools.

"Everybody's got their own opinion" on the best way to get the cross, said John Kontodiakos, after his son emerged the winner. "But in the end, if it's meant for you, you're going to get it."

The event is the highlight of the annual Jan. 6 celebration of Jesus' baptism by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It's one of three major holy days in the Greek Orthodox religion, along with Christmas and Easter.

It also is the largest celebration of its kind in the United States, organizers say.

The celebration continues until 9 tonight with food and dancing at the local community center.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Annual Greek cultural and religious festival

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today

WHERE: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 17 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs; Craig Park, one block west of Alternate U.S. 19 and Tarpon Avenue; Spanos-Pappas Community Center's Theofilos Hall, 348 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs

HOW MUCH: Free

SCHEDULE:

Noon: Blessing of the waters by Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Bishop Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta

12:30 p.m.: Traditional procession with clergy, altar servers, visiting dignitaries, schoolchildren dressed in traditional Greek costumes, band and choir; dove-bearer will release a dove, and the Greek Orthodox male youths will dive for the Epiphany cross in Craig Park

Until 9 p.m.: Greek food, dancing and celebration at Spanos-Pappas Community Center

Reporter Lisa A. Davis contributed to this report.

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