Justina was a virgin of noble birth in the city which claims her patronage, i.e. Padua who lived some time between the 1st and 3rd centuries.

Her parents were reportedly converted to Christianity by the preaching of Saint Prosdocimus, the first bishop of Padua, and not having been blessed with children up to that time, they received Justina in answer to their prayer.

At this time arose the persecutions of the Christians by Nero, and Maximian the prefect who had succeeded Vitalian, proved himself particularly brutal.

The tombs of several saints are housed in the interior, including those of Justina, Prosdocimus, St. Maximus, St. Urius, St. Felicitas, St. Julian, as well as relics of the Apostle St. Matthias and the Evangelist St. Luke.

Justina is represented in Christian Art crowned as a princess, and with a sword transfixing her bosom, in accordance with her martyrdom, AD.