Protomartyr (Koine Greek, πρότος prótos "first" + μάρτυρας mártyras "martyr") is a term for the first Christian martyr in a country. Alternatively, the phrase the Protomartyr (with no other qualification of country or region) can mean Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church and Saint Thecla, the first female martyr of the Christian church.