Pope Soter

Born in Fundi in the Lazio region, Soter rose to lead the Roman church around 167. His papacy brought two lasting structural changes: he declared marriage valid only when blessed by a priest, formalizing what had been custom into doctrine, and he established Easter as an annual festival in Rome, setting the rhythm of the liturgical year. He served until his death around 174, though dates in ancient records blur — some sources stretch his tenure from 162 to 177. His given name, Soter, comes from the Greek for "saviour" and was his baptismal name, not a chosen title; the tradition of popes adopt…