Both the Roman and Eastern churches, before the elevation of Victor to the Roman episcopacy—he had succeeded Eleuterus in about 189—had tolerated a difference in dating the celebration of the Christian Passover/Easter between Rome and the bishops of Asia Minor.

The churches in Asia Minor celebrate it on the fourteenth of the Jewish month of Nisan, the day before Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it falls on, as the Crucifixion had occurred on the Friday before Passover.

The Latins call them Quartodecimans.

Rome and the West celebrate Easter on the Sunday following the fourteenth of Nisan.

Victor is remembered for the great concern he displayed for order in the church by severing ties with bishops such as Polycrates of Ephesus who opposed his views on Easter.

Pope Victor attempted to cut off from the common unity Polycrates and others for taking this stance, but later reversed his decision after Irenaeus and others intercede.

Polycrates is best known for his letter addressed to Victor: it will be used as proof against the argument that the Churches in Asia Minor accepted the authority of the bishops at Rome.

It is unclear what happened to Polycrates after his letter.

Victor also breaks with Theodotus of Byzantium for his beliefs about Christ: Theodotus claims that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit as a mortal man, and though later "adopted" by God upon baptism (that is to say, he became the Christ), was not himself God until after his resurrection.

This doctrine, sometimes called "Dynamic Monarchianism" or "Adoptionism,” is declared heretical by Victor, and Theodotus is excommunicated.

Until Victor's time, Rome celebrated the Mass in Greek.

Pope Victor changes the language to Latin, which is used in his native North Africa.

According to Jerome, he was the first Christian author to write about theology in Latin.

Latin masses, however, will not become universal until the latter half of the fourth century.

Severus, trying to gain favor with the family of Marcus Aurelius, rehabilitates Commodus's memory and has the Senate deify him in 195.