Saint Agnes Of Rome: The Great Persecution

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The Great Persecution started during the reign of Diocletian. Diocletian took power in 284 BCE and stepped down from emperor in 305 BCE. Diocletian took power when Rome was in a crisis. In the third century, the Roman Empire was changing. They had trouble with the transformation of the monarchy, the state was instable, the power of the military was increasing, some provinces were becoming more powerful in political and military aspects, there was social change, the empire had economic problems, there was a decrease in population which led to a manpower shortage, there was a religious and moral crisis, and lastly barbarian people were invading Rome . Diocletian came in and set up many reforms to help the Empire. He made reforms in government, …show more content…

She endured suffering at twelve years old or thirteen during the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304. Agnes was a lovely young lady of a rich family and she had a numerous amount of suitors of high rank. he story is not very well known but, legend holds that a young man, was insulted by her dedication to religious purity, and turned her name to the authorities as a supporter of Christianity. The Prefect Sempronius sentenced Agnes to be dragged naked through the streets to a brothel. Different versions of the legend give different strategies for escape from this issue. In one, as she prayed, her hair grew longer and secured her body. It was also said that the any of the men who tried to sexually assault her were instantly struck blind. In another the child of the prefect is struck dead, however was came back to life after she prayed to God for him, bringing on her to be released. There is then a trial from which Sempronius pardons himself, and another figure takes over, sentencing her to death. when it was her turn to die she was tied to a stake, yet the wood would not burn, and the flames separated far from her. Then the officer in charge drew his sword and decapitated her. It is said that her blood poured to the stadium floor where different Christians drenched it up with their clothes. Agnes was buried next to the Via Nomentana in Rome. A couple days after her death, her step-sister, Saint Emerentiana, was discovered praying by her tomb, and was stoned to death for declining to leave the place and scloding the pagans for killing her step-sister. Emerentiana was later canonized as a Saint. The daughter of Constantine I, Saint Constance, was additionally said to have been cured of leprosy after praying at Agnes'

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