Protomartyr

The first martyr — St. Stephen is called the Protomartyr of the New Testament; St. Thecla the first woman martyr.

Protomartyr (from protos, first, and martys, witness) is the title of the first martyr. In the New Testament, St. Stephen the Deacon is the Protomartyr (Acts 6-7): the first person to die explicitly for the faith in the name of Christ. His feast is December 27, the day after the Nativity — the first death following the first Birth. In the early Church, St. Thecla of Iconium is called the 'Protomartyr among women' and 'Equal to the Apostles.'