Polyeuctus was a 3rd-century Roman military officer and Christian martyr from Melitene, located in ancient Armenia. Serving in the Legio XII Fulminata, he converted to Christianity following the influence of his friend Nearchus. During the reign of Emperor Valerian, he publicly defied imperial edicts by destroying idols in the city square. Despite the pleas of his family, he remained steadfast in his faith and was eventually executed by beheading in 259.