Pope Anterus

Of Greek origin, he was born in the town of Petilia Policastro in Calabria. He was elected as the successor to the Roman bishop Pontian, but was soon arrested and executed – even before his predecessor passed away in hard labor.

Eusebius Pamphili writes: "...the successor of Pontian, who was bishop of Rome for six years, was Anther, and after Anther, who served only for a month, came Fabian." More precisely, the papal martyr Anther served from November 21, 235, to January 3, 236.

The holy martyr Anther was the first Roman pope to be buried in the papal crypt at the cemetery of Callixtus (Callixtus), located on the Appian Way. His tombstone has been preserved with an inscription in Greek: Αντέρως επι...