The title ofNew Martyr orNeomartyr (Greek:νεο-,neo-, the prefix for "new"; and μάρτυς,martys, "witness") is conferred in some denominations ofChristianity to distinguish more recentmartyrs andconfessors from the old martyrs of thepersecution in the Roman Empire.
The earliest source to use the termneomartys is theNarrationes ofAnastasius of Sinai, who died around 700. The title continued to be used for the next three hundred years to refer to victims ofUmayyad andAbbasid persecution. It was mainly used inGreek sources, but is occasionally found inArabic,Georgian andSyriac sources. Between the 11th and 14th centuries, theByzantine–Seljuq wars also generated a number of neomartyrs.[1]
TheGreek Orthodox Church traditionally gives the title to those who had been tortured and executed duringOttoman rule in Greece in order to avoid forced conversion to Islam.[2][3] This meaning is the dominant one, so much so that pre-Ottoman use of the term has been almost ignored in academia. Sectarian conflicts of the 19th century within theOttoman Empire andCommunist persecution in eastern Europe also generated saints considered neomartyrs.[1]
The first new martyrs were recorded after the Seljuk invasion of Asia Minor (11th century).[4] In theEastern Orthodox Church, the third Sunday afterPentecost is known as the "Commemoration of All New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke."[citation needed]
In theRussian Orthodox Church, the Sunday closest to 25 January (7 February on theGregorian Calendar) is the "Sunday of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia." The date of 25 January was chosen because that was the date in 1918 of the martyrdom ofSt. Vladimir (Bogoiavlensikii),Metropolitan ofKiev, who is referred to as the "Protomartyr of the communist yoke in Russia."
The feast of "All New Martyrs of Serbia" is celebrated on 28 June [O.S. 15 June].
24 June [O.S. 11 June] is celebrated as the feast of the "New Martyrs of China Slain During theBoxer Rebellion"
As of 2016[update] theRussian Orthodox Church has not glorified either of the martyrs listed above, but each has received widespread popular veneration.
