Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 3: St. Anterus

Anterus is the earliest-serving pope to have served for less than a year. He took the throne on November 21, 235, and died on January 3, 236.  There's some disagreement as to the manner of his death, whether it was natural or a martyrdom as part of persecutions carried out by Emperor Maximinus. Those thinking he was martyred attribute it to Anterus' appointment of notaries to collect stories of martyrs, which were then archived at the Vatican. Not surprisingly, Anterus didn't do much during his time in office, naming one bishop and not much else.

Regardless of how he died, Anterus was the first pope interred in a crypt overseen by the future pope (and saint) Calixtus, which became the final resting place for most (if not all) of the third century popes. What are believed to be his ashes were rediscovered some time later and reinterred at San Silvestro in Rome. Anterus was made a saint at some point, though it's not clear why (other than potentially being a martyr).