In the early Christian Church, lapsi (Latin for "fallen;" Greek: πεπτωκότες, romanized: peptōkotes) were apostates who renounced their faith under persecution by Roman authorities. The term refers to those who have lapsed or fallen away from their faith, only to return to it later.[1]
It could also be considered as the opposite of the concept of the Martyr, who are those who prefer to accept suffering and death rather than deny their faith.