3rd century
Saint Nearchus the Martyr
Third-century martyr who was put to death by fire and is usually identified with the friend of Saint Polyeuctus.
Biography
Nearchus was a Roman army officer in Armenia, probably in the 3rd century, in the time of Decius and Valerian. He was a close friend of the officer Polyeuctus, whom, according to tradition, he led to Christianity.
Polyeuctus, with a convert's zeal, attacked a pagan procession and was beheaded for it, asking Nearchus before he died to remember their shared vow. Nearchus was martyred later, burned alive.