Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

St. Soter (born, Fondi, Latium [Italy]—died c. 175, Rome; feast day April 22) was the pope from about 166 to about 175.

Succeeding St. Anicetus as pope, Soter sent a letter and alms to the church of Corinth, whose bishop, St. Dionysius, replied in a letter that acknowledged Soter’s affection and theological advice. Soter continued Pope Anicetus’s attack against Montanism, a heresy that emphasized prophecy and rigid moral norms. Although no account of Soter’s death survives, he is honoured as a martyr. He was succeeded by St. Eleutherius.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking ā€œSign Upā€, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.