Saints Nearchus and Polyeuctus were third-century Roman army officers in Armenia. Their saints’ story is told in Menalogion of Metaphrastes. Nearchus was Christian, but Polyeuctus was not. The men had a strong desire to spend eternity together, so Polyeuctus converted from paganism to Christianity. With a convert’s zeal he attacked a pagan procession. He was beheaded for his crime. Shortly before he was executed, he spoke his last words to Nearchus: “Remember our secret vow.” Nearchus was later burned alive.
