Name:
Pope Anterus
Preceded by: Pope Pontian (230-235)
Succeeded by: Pope Fabian (236-250)
Dates:
Born: ? (Greece)
Died:January 3, 236
Pope: November 21, 235 - January 3, 236 (1 month)
Biography:
Just about the only thing that can be said about Pope Anterus is that he was
Greek. Not every pope with a Greek name was Greek - it is likely that many
were Roman who changed their names in memory of St. Peter whose name
was changed to Greek by Jesus. Although the custom continued for a long time
and we can find Greek names with popes through the Middle Ages, it has long
since fallen out of favor.
Some believe that Anterus was martyred, but there is no evidence of that and it is likely that he died of natural causes. He was the first pope to be buried in the new papal crypt in the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
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What are the various Christian groups, denominations, sects and heresies? What are some key concepts in Christian theology? What are some of the most important events in Christian history? All of this and more are covered in the Christianity FAQ.
