Anterus
Anterus was the bishop of Rome from 21 November 235 until his death on 3 January 236. His pontificate occurred during the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus the Thracian, and there is scholarly debate about whether he died a martyr or in undramatic circumstances. He is remembered for ordering greater strictness in searching into the acts of martyrs.
Key Facts
Acts of Martyrs
- Ordered Greater Strictness In Searching Into the Acts of the Martyrs
- Created One Bishop For the City of Fondi
Pope Pontian, Antipope Hippolytus, Pope Clement I, Emperor Maximinus the Thracian, Catacomb of Callixtus, Giovanni Battista De Rossi, Pope Clement Viii
About Anterus
Pope Anterus
Pope Anterus was the bishop of Rome from November 21, 235, until his death on January 3, 236. His pontificate was brief and occurred during a turbulent period in the early Church, marked by the persecutions under Emperor Maximinus the Thracian.
Life and historical context
Born in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy, Anterus is believed to have been of Greek origin. His name might suggest he was a freed slave. He succeeded Pope Pontian, who had been deported from Rome. During his time, Anterus is noted for creating one bishop for the city of Fondi. The circumstances of his death are a subject of scholarly discussion; some believe he was martyred, possibly due to his efforts to ensure greater accuracy in recording the acts of martyrs, a practice initiated by Pope Clement I. Conversely, other scholars suggest he likely died in less dramatic circumstances amidst the ongoing persecutions.
Burial and remembrance
Anterus was laid to rest in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus, situated on the Appian Way in Rome. The site of his tomb was rediscovered in 1854 by Giovanni Battista de Rossi, who found remnants of a Greek epitaph. His ashes were later transferred to the Church of Saint Sylvester in the Campus Martius, discovered in 1595 during renovations by Pope Clement VIII. Pope Anterus is commemorated in the Catholic Church on January 3 and in the Russian Orthodox Church on August 18.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pope Anterus the bishop of Rome?
Pope Anterus served as the bishop of Rome from November 21, 235, until his death on January 3, 236.
Where was Pope Anterus from?
Anterus was born in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy. He is thought to have been of Greek origin.
Did Pope Anterus die a martyr?
There is scholarly debate on this. Some believe Anterus was martyred because he ordered greater strictness in searching into the acts of the martyrs. Others doubt this, suggesting he likely died in undramatic circumstances during the persecutions of Emperor Maximinus the Thracian.
Where was Pope Anterus buried?
Pope Anterus was buried in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus, located on the Appian Way in Rome. His sepulchre was discovered in 1854.
Related Popes
Caius
Pope Caius, also known as Gaius, served as the bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 until his death on 22 April 296. Little is definitively known about his pontificate, with much information derived from the Liber Pontificalis and legendary accounts. Tradition suggests he was martyred during a period of increasing anti-Christian measures, though the exact circumstances and his martyrdom are debated.
Callixtus I
Callixtus I, also known as Callistus I, served as the Bishop of Rome from approximately 218 to his death around 222 or 223 AD, during the reigns of Roman emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church, particularly as the patron saint of cemetery workers. His pontificate saw the establishment of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus as a significant burial ground for popes and the controversial admission of converts from schisms into the Church.
Dionysius
Pope Dionysius was the Bishop of Rome from 259 to 268, a period marked by the transition from persecution under Valerian to the toleration granted by Gallienus. He is significant for his role in early conciliar disputes, particularly those condemning Paul of Samosata, and for his theological writings that defended the divine nature of the Son of God, predating the controversies of Arianism.