A martyr is a person who suffers or dies for their beliefs, usually in a religious or political context. They are seen as selfless heroes for enduring hardship in order to uphold their principles. Full definition
Add to this the often saccharine depiction of martyrs in Christian art and legend, and one has a situation in which martyrdom is seen as a pious, quaint idea from an earlier age. (firstthings.com)
They can turn me into some kind of martyr for the cause and paint my face on banners, and it will do more to rally people than anything I could do if I was living. (goodreads.com)
Small wonder that Blessed John Paul, shot in a crowded St Peter's Square in 1981, recognised himself as the Pope in this vision: the vast numbers of Christian martyrs of the bloodstained 20th century were epitomised here, with Mary's plea for prayer and penance echoing authentically across the ruins of so manycities in two world wars and other conflicts. (faith.org.uk)