In an act of desperation, the governor told Agnes that he would have her sent to a house of prostitution.  She would sure bring a high price there and be exposed to many insults.  There she would lose that which she held most dear - - her virginity.  Agnes replied that Jesus Christ would defend and protect her from such evils.  The governor became enraged and ordered that Agnes indeed be taken to the local brothel.  Many young men came to take advantage of Agnes but upon gazing upon her pure beauty were struck with awe.  Only one attempted to be rude to her and that very instant was struck by lightening and was blinded.  His companions brought him then to Agnes who was at a distance singing hymns of praise to Christ.  Through her prayer, the man's sight was restored as was his health.

Finally, the governor condemned Agnes to be put to death by beheading.  Agnes appeared to be jubilant over her sentence and still more so at the sight of her executioner.  She went to her death with as much joy as one going to a wedding.  The executioner was secretly instructed to try by all and any means to convince Agnes to comply and thus dismiss her sentence, but Agnes answered repeated that she could never offer so great an injury to her heavenly spouse.  She prayed briefly and then bowed down her neck to adore God and in that moment received the stroke of death.  The spectators wept.

St. Agnes is the patron saint of young girls.  Her feast day is January 21.  It was once a popular belief that if a girl went to bed with no supper on the eve of the feast day of St. Agnes, she would dream of her destined husband.

Religious art depicts Agnes with a lamb.