IMAGE: CNS photos/Jacqueline Dorme, Republican-Herald and Gregory A. Shemitz
By
PHILADELPHIA
(CNS) — Two Ukrainian Catholic prelates have placed a culinary wager on the
outcome of the Feb. 4 Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
Archbishop
Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia, metropolitan of U.S. Ukrainian Catholics, is
rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, in their first Super Bowl appearance since
2005. Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky of Stamford, Connecticut, is rooting for the New
England Patriots — the returning Super Bowl champions and perennial
powerhouse.
To
show their confidence in their respective home teams, the bishops announced
Feb. 1 they have placed a friendly wager on the ultimate outcome of the game. The
beneficiaries will be either the chancery staff in Philadelphia or the chancery
staff in Stamford.
“If
the Eagles do not fly high on Sunday,” Archbishop Soroka said, “we will provide
a luncheon for the Stamford chancery staff highlighted with Philadelphia
cheesesteaks. However, I do not suspect I will have to do so.”
While
Bishop Chomnycky and his chancery staff are looking forward to the Philly cheesesteak
luncheon, the bishop stated that “if the Eagles fly high and the Patriots
experience a rare defeat,” he will provide the Philadelphia chancery staff with
a luncheon “with Boston cream pie as the dessert.”
The
Philly cheesesteak was developed in the early 20th century “by combining
frizzled beef, onions and cheese in a small loaf of bread,” according to a
1987 exhibition catalog published by the Library Company of Philadelphia and
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphians
Pat and Harry Olivieri are often credited with inventing the sandwich by
serving chopped steak on an Italian roll in the early 1930s.
According
to the owners of the Parker House Hotel in Boston, the Boston cream pie was
first created at the hotel by an Armenian-French chef, M. Sanzian, in 1856 and
originally called a chocolate cream pie. While other custard cakes may have
existed at the time, baking chocolate as a coating was a new process, making it
unique and a popular choice on the menu.
The
name “Boston cream pie” first appeared in the 1872 Methodist Almanac was declared
the official dessert of Massachusetts Dec. 12,1996.
While
both bishops are rooting for their respective home teams, they said they see the
big game as an American tradition that brings the nation together on Super Bowl
Sunday.
“It
is amazing how on this one Sunday, people throughout the nation, indeed
throughout the world, come together to watch a game played by grown men. Families,
neighbors and organizations have parties and socials to enjoy this American
classic. It is a unifying event,” Archbishop Soroka said.
Bishop
Chomnycky commented, “While we all hope for an exciting and competitive
football game on Sunday, we also look forward to good sportsmanship and
camaraderie among the players and fans both on and off the field. For a few
hours, we are able to forget about the many problems throughout the world.”
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