Justus of Lecce

Justus of Lecce was, according to a twelfth-⁠century manuscript, a disciple of the apostle Paul, who on his way to Rome was shipwrecked in Salento and cast ashore near San Cataldo at Lecce. Justus brought to the Lord Orontius and his nephew Fortunatus, two inhabitants of Rudiae (now Lecce). Orontius was the son of an imperial treasurer and inherited his office.

Orontius and Fortunatus declared themselves Christians and refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods; they were beaten and imprisoned, and then went to Corinth, where the apostle Paul confirmed Orontius as bishop of Lecce and named Fortunatus as his successor. Back at Lecce they were seized again by Antonius, Nero's envoy, and, after preaching in Salento and at Bari, were beheaded with the axe three kilometres from the town, on 26 August. Of Justus the source says only that he was martyred too.

In the source used, the name "Justus of Lecce" leads to the article on Orontius, who is usually commemorated together with Fortunatus and Justus; the day of 26 August is that of Orontius. The calendar is not stated. Justus is honoured as a saint of the undivided Church, with no synodal canonization shown in the source.