Pope Soter
| Saint Soter | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Papacy began | 166 |
| Papacy ended | 174 |
| Predecessor | Anicetus |
| Successor | Eleuterus |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | ??? |
| Born | ??? Fondi, Campania, Roman Empire |
| Died | 174 (?) Rome, Roman Empire |
| Papal styles of Pope Soter |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | Saint |
Pope Saint Soter (-174) was the Bishop of Rome during the latter half of the 2nd Century with his pontificate, according to the Annuario Pontificio, beginning between 162 and 168 then ending between 170 and 177.[1] Although his name is derived from the Greek word "σωτήρ" (sōtēr), meaning a "saviour" or "deliverer", he was born in Fondi, Campania, Italy.[2] Soter is known for declaring that marriage was valid only as a sacrament blessed by a priest and he also formally inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome.[3]
Saint Soter's feast day is celebrated on April 22 with the feast of Saint Caius. The Roman Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints, references Soter: "At Rome, Saint Soter, Pope, whom Dionysius of Corinth praises for his outstanding charity towards needy exiled Christians who came to him, and towards those who had been condemned to the mines."[4]
It has often been supposed that all the earliest Popes suffered martyrdom; but the Roman Martyrology does not give Pope Soter the title of Martyr.
References
- ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2008 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, ISBN 978-88-209-8021-4), p. 8*
- ↑ http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_soter.htm
- ↑ http://saints.sqpn.com/pope-saint-soter/
- ↑ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Anicetus |
Bishop of Rome Pope 167–175 |
Succeeded by Eleuterus |
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