ΜΝΗΜΗ ΝΕΑΡΧΟΥ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ

Σ υ ν α ξ ά ρ ι ο ν
Τῇ ΚΒ' τοῦ αὐτοῦ μηνός Απριλίου, ὁ Ἅγιος Μάρτυς Νέαρχος πυρὶ τελειοῦται.
Στίχοι
Τοῦ πρὸς σέ, Σῶτερ, ἐμπύρου θείου πόθου, Νέαρχος εἶπεν, οὐδὲ πῦρ με χωρίσει. (analogion.net)

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The Armenian town of Melitene was soaked in Christian blood, as was all the land of Armenia. The first blood shed for Christ in that town was that of St Polyeuctus, spilled in about the year 259, during the reign of Valerian. There were in the town two officers: Nearchus and Polyeuctus, the former baptised and the latter unbaptised. When a decree went out from the Emperor that all Christians were to be killed, Nearchus prepared himself for death, though with great sorrow at not having brought Polyeuctus to the true Faith. When Polyeuctus became aware of Nearchus' sorrow, he promised to become a believer. On the following day, he related to Nearchus a dream that he had: the Lord Himself had appeared to him in light, stripped his old clothing from him, clothed him in new and shining raiment and set him upon the saddle of a winged horse. After relating this dream, Polyeuctus went off to the town, tore up the royal decree on the persecution of Christians and smashed many statues of idols. He was tortured and condemned to death. On the way to the place of execution, he caught sight of Nearchus in the crowd and called joyfully to him: 'Save your soul, my dear riend! Remember the vow of love confirmed between us!' And St Nearchus later ended a martyr for Christ in the fire. His feast is on April 22nd.

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Polyeucte is a drama in five acts by French writer Pierre Corneille. It was finished in December 1642 and debuted in October 1643. It is based on the life of the martyr Saint Polyeuctus (Polyeucte).
In 1878 it was adapted into an opera by Charles Gounod, with the assistance of the librettist Jules Barbier. Other works based on the play include a ballet by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1679), the opera Poliuto (1838) by Donizetti (adapted with Scribe as Les martyrs), an overture by Paul Dukas (1891) and a composition by Edgar Tinel.
The drama is set in Armenia during a time when Christians were persecuted there under the Roman Empire. Polyeucte, an Armenian nobleman, converts to Christianity to the great despair of his wife, Pauline, and of his father-in-law, Felix. Despite them, Polyeucte becomes a martyr, causing Pauline and Felix to finally convert as well.
There is also a romantic subplot: the Roman Severus is in love with Pauline and hopes she will be his after the conversion of Polyeucte. However, she chooses to stay at the side of her husband. Before dying, Polyeucte entrusts Severus with Pauline. (en.wikipedia.org)

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This tragedy departs radically from the dramatist's named sources, more so than in any other of his works. It is argued here that the plot is altered in order to avoid any potentially subversive readings. There is an obvious political agenda—the monarch is not criticized at any point—but an overlooked factor may be a desire to neutralize the suggestion of homoeroticism. Thus, the play represents an apologia for Christian marriage and intimate relations between the sexes. This manipulation amounts to the portrayal of a heterosexualized hero, far removed from a virgin-martyr stereotype, and from the saint's legend as presented in standard narratives. (Scott P: Manipulating Martyrdom. Corneille's (Hetero)sexualization of Polyeucte, The Modern Language Review, Volume 99)

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Felix. Leave me, leave me here alone! -
Say more - my goaded heart will turn to stone;
Vex me no more - I will not be denied!
Go, save thy madman from his suicide! [Exit Pauline.
How met Nearchus death?
Albin. The fiend abhorred
He hailed, - embraced: `For Christ!` his latest word;
No sigh, no tear, - he passed without amaze
Adown the narrow vale with upward gaze.
Felix. And he - his friend?
Albin. Is, as I said, unmoved
He looks on death but as a friend beloved,
He clasped the scaffold as a guide most sure,
And, in his prison, he can still endure.
Felix. Oh, wretched that I am!
Albin. All pity thee. (Act III)