In 249 CE, Diceus began his tyrannical two-year reign as emperor of Rome. His ignoble

legacy is evident by the fact that he has an atrocity named after him, the Dicean persecution

and edict that required all citizens of the empire to choose between loyalty to the Roman

gods or death. While not directly targeted at the states growing Christian population,

it had the effect of suppressing the faith and led to the execution of many prominent Christians,

including even the Pope. In 250, aware of the danger of openly practicing his religion,

St. Paul of Thebes exiled himself to a cave in Egypt, becoming the first of the Christian

Hermits. Two centuries later, these Hermits began to organize themselves into monastic orders,

and Christian monks would become a powerful force in sustaining the Western religion's

arts, literature, and culture. But beyond tasks like illuminating manuscripts, monks

developed their own tradition of food, most famously fermentation, as Beard Brewed at

monasteries continues to be among the most highly regarded in the industry, but also via

pretzels, a savory pastry of European origin. While a thoroughly secular snack today, for

centuries the monks' treat was considered overtly Christian due to its signature form,

the cross-shape symbolizing arms folded in prayer, and its trio of holes symbolizing

the whole e-trennity. By the 20th century, this millennial old snack had traversed the

Atlantic and was firmly in sconce in American food culture, and in 1984, Bill Phelpsson's

fortuitously named business barter started a soft pretzel franchise that would quickly

become a fixture at shopping centers, ball games, and amusement parks across the nation.

Now with 300 five locations in 28 states and six countries, how much of its success is

attributable to its sweet and savory pastries, and how much to the memorable rhyming name

of Phelps co-founder, and yes, his actual name is Rich Wetzel. This week on Doeboys, Wetzel's

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