Polyeuctus (martyr)
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Martyrdom of St. Polyeuctus in the Menologion of Basil II.
Polyeuktus († 259 in Melitene ) was a Roman soldier of Greek origin who suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius in the Armenian city of Melitene . He is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox and Catholic Churches .
Legend
The Martyrologium Romanum notes that Polyeuktus, instead of performing the prescribed cult of sacrifice, smashed the images of the gods and was tortured and beheaded for it. This is how he received the baptism of blood , so he had not been baptized before .
Symeon Metaphrastes (10th century) offers a detailed and dramatic vita . This used Pierre Corneille as a template for his tragedy Polyeucte (1642) on the basis of Charles Gounod created in 1878 his eponymous opera.
Individual evidence
- ↑ santiebeati.it (Italian)
- ↑ catholic.org (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Polyeuktos |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Polyeuctus of Melitene |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Soldier and martyr |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd century or 3rd century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 259 |
| Place of death | Melitene |