Justina of Padua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Justina of Padua

Virgin martyr
Born	?
Died	ca. 304 AD
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church; cult centered at Avignon
Major shrine	Padua
Feast	October 7
Attributes	young woman setting a cross on the head of the devil while holding a lily in her hand; young woman with a crown, palm, and sword; young woman with a palm, book, and a sword in her breast; young woman with a unicorn, symbolizing virginity, and palm; young woman with both breasts pierced by one sword; young woman with Saint Prosdocimus; depicted as nun; young woman with Saint Scholastica
Patronage	Padua

Saint Justina (Justine) of Padua ((Italian) Santa Giustina) is a Christian saint who was said to have been martyred in 304 AD. Justina was said to have been a young woman who took private vows of chastity and was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian. She is a patron saint of Padua.

Medieval legends described her as a disciple of Saint Peter the Apostle. Thus, Saint Prosdocimus, the first bishop of Padua, is said to have been Justina's spiritual father; his legend states that he was sent from Antioch by Peter.

The abbey and the basilica of Santa Giustina, in Padua, houses art dedicated to the saint, including the Martyrdom of St. Justine by Paolo Veronese. The complex was founded in the 5th century on Justine's tomb, and in the 15th century became one of the most important monasteries in the area, until it was suppressed by Napoleon in 1810. In 1919 it was reopened. The tombs of several saints are housed in the interior, including those of Justina, St. Prosdocimus, St. Maximus, St. Urius, St. Felicita, St. Julianus, as well as relics of the Apostle St. Matthias and the Evangelist St. Luke.