Timeless Christians

Agnes of Rome

What terrible threat did a 12-year-old girl pose to the Roman Empire? That is the question Romans asked when a judge executed Agnes of Rome.

At an age when most girls still enjoy dolls or are only beginning to daydream of marriage, Agnes stood boldly for Christ. Her conviction guarantees her name's lasting memory.

She was a young virgin, just 12 or 13 years old at the time of her triumph. When she refused to marry a Roman boy, he denounced her to the authorities as a Christian and a Roman judge demanded she deny Christ and sacrifice to an idol. She refused. Instead, she made the sign of the cross. Bishop Ambrose tells us that when she persisted in her testimony for Christ, the judge had her stripped naked in order to humiliate her. He threatened to torture her, but she still would not yield, so he ordered her head cut off. This happened in Rome around AD 304 while Diocletian was emperor. Diocletian was notorious for his cruel treatment of Christians.

Romans were shocked. To kill a virgin was against their law. They were also impressed that Agnes showed more courage then many brave men. Outrage at the government's treatment of the girl may have helped end the persecution against Christians.

Agnes' love of Christ gained her lasting fame. Bishops and teachers held her up as an example of heroism for succeeding generations. Several church fathers spoke highly of her, including Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine. Romans built a church in her honor, probably during the reign of Constantine the Great. Pope Honorius, who reigned 625 - 638, repaired it, and Innocent X built another in Rome years later. In art, Agnes is symbolized by a lamb, because her name means "pure" in Greek and sounds like the Latin word "Agnus" which means lamb.

by Dan Graves