Saint Agnes Martyr by Alonso Cano Holiday Card

A serene and reverent portrayal of Saint Agnes, the young Roman virgin martyr whose witness has inspired Christians for over seventeen centuries. According to Vatican sources, Agnes was only 12–13 years old when she suffered martyrdom in Rome during the persecutions traditionally attributed to Emperor Diocletian around 304 AD. Her name comes from the Greek hagnē, meaning “pure”, and early Christian writers such as Saint Ambrose praised her double testimony of faith and chastity. When she refused to renounce Christ or marry the powerful young man who desired her, she was arrested, humiliated, and ultimately executed—Western tradition says by beheading, while Eastern tradition recounts that she was burned alive. Saint Agnes is traditionally depicted with a lamb, symbolizing innocence and the play on her name (agnus in Latin). She is honored on 21 January, and her principal shrine is the Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. Perfect for devotional art, educational materials, church décor, and designs celebrating early Christian martyrdom and purity.