A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Agnes, Saint
AGNES, SAINT,
A Christian martyr at Rome during the persecutions of Dioclesian, whose bloody edicts appeared in March, A. D. 303. She was but thirteen at the time of her glorious death. Her riches and beauty excited many of the young noblemen of Rome to seek her in marriage; but Agnes answered them all, that she had consecrated herself to a heavenly spouse. Her suitors accused her to the governor as a Christian, not doubting that threats and torments would overcome her resolution. The judge at first employed the mildest persuasions and most inviting promises, to which Agnes paid no attention; he then displayed before her the instruments of torture, with threats of immediate execution, and dragged her before idols, to which she was commanded to sacrifice; but Agnes moved her hand only to make the sign of the cross. The governor, highly exasperated, ordered her to be immediately beheaded; and Agnes went cheerfully to the place of execution. Her body was buried at a small distance from Rome, near the Nonietan road. A church was built on the spot in the time of Constantine the Great. The old Latin martyrologies assign to St. Agnes the 21st. and 28th. of January; the Greek the 14th. and 21st. of that month; which latter date is now called her day in the Roman church.