The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Agnes of Rome
d. c. 304 · Virgin · Martyr of Rome · Rome
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Agnes of Rome was
A girl of twelve or thirteen martyred at Rome in the Great Persecution, and one of the most venerated of all virgin-martyrs — celebrated within two generations by Ambrose, Damasus, and Prudentius, who tell how she went to death as to a wedding, refusing marriage because she was vowed to Christ. Damasus set a verse epitaph over her grave on the Via Nomentana, where Constantine’s daughter later raised a basilica. Ambrose made her the pattern of consecrated virginity: “a new kind of martyrdom — too young for punishment, ripe for victory.”
Also listed in martyrs, women and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Agnes die?
Agnes of Rome is dated d. c. 304 in the archive, which places Agnes in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Agnes?
Agnes of Rome is named in 5 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The chronographer of 354, Damasus of Rome, Ambrose of Milan and Prudentius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Agnes from?
The archive associates Agnes of Rome with Rome.
Who were Agnes’ contemporaries?
The archive links Agnes of Rome to 4 other figures, including Ambrose of Milan, Damasus I of Rome, Emperor Diocletian and Lucy of Syracuse. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (5)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Depositio martyrum: 'Agnetis in Nomentana'
c. AD 354XII Kal. Feb.: Agnetis in Nomentana — Agnes, on the Nomentan Way.The chronographer of 354 · Depositio martyrum · source text
Epigram of Damasus at her tomb (still in situ on the Via Nomentana)
c. AD 380On Virgins I.2
c. AD 385It is the birthday of St. Agnes… She is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. There was little room in that small body for a wound; yet she bore in it a trophy of victory.Ambrose of Milan · source text
Hymn 'Agnes beatae virginis'
c. AD 386Crowns of Martyrdom 14
c. AD 405Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Agnes.
- 1Rome