Lydia of Thyatira
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Lydia of Thyatira was the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe.
The Acts of the Apostles describes her as follows:
- One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. (16:14-15 RSV)
The name, "Lydia", meaning "the Lydian woman", by which she was known indicates that she was from Lydia in Asia Minor. She was evidently a well-to-do agent of a purple-dye firm of Thyatira, a city southeast of Pergamum and approximately 40 miles inland, across the Aegean Sea from Athens. Lydia insisted on giving hospitality to Saint Paul and his companions in Philippi. They stayed with her until their departure, through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica (Acts 16:40-17:1). In the liturgical calendar of saints of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Greece she is called "Lydia of Philippi". Her feast is on 3 August. She is also commemorated with Dorcas and Phoebe on January 27 in the Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and on October 25 in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
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