Lydia of Thyatira - wikipedia Lydia of Thyatira A modern Greek Orthodox outdoor chapel on what is said to be the site where Lydia was baptized. Lydia of Thyatira ( Greek : Λυδία ) is a woman mentioned in the New Testament who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have designated her a saint. Contents 1 Name 2 New Testament narrative 3 Background 3.1 Profession 3.2 Social status 3.3 Marital status 4 Feast day 5 Devotion 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Name The name, `` Lydia '', meaning `` the Lydian woman '', by which she was known indicates that she was from Lydia in Asia Minor. Though she is commonly known as `` St. Lydia '' or even more simply `` The Woman of Purple, '' Lydia is given other titles : `` of Thyatira, '' `` Purpuraria, '' and `` of Philippi ( ' Philippisia ' in Greek ). '' `` ( Lydia 's ) name is an ethnicon, deriving from her place of origin ''. The first refers to her place of birth, which is a city in the Greek region of Lydia. The second comes from the Latin word for purple and relates to her connection with purple dye. Philippi was the city in which Lydia was living when she met St. Paul and his companions. All of these titles expound upon this woman 's background. New Testament narrative Acts 16 describes Lydia as follows : A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us ; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, `` If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay. '' So she persuaded us. -- Acts 16 : 14 - 15 World English Bible Wayne Grudem sees the story of Lydia as being an example of effectual calling. Background Lydia was most likely a Greek Macedonian even though she lived in a Roman settlement. She was evidently a well - to - do agent of a purple - dye firm in Thyatira, a city southeast of Pergamum and approximately 40 miles inland, across the Aegean Sea from Athens. Lydia insisted on giving hospitality to Apostle Paul and his companions in Philippi. They stayed with her until their departure, through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica ( Acts 16 : 40 - 17 : 1 ). Paul, Silas, and Timothy were traveling through the region of Philippi when they encounter `` a reputable businesswoman and possibly a widow... ( who ) was a righteous Gentile or ' God - fearer ' attracted to Judaism ''. `` ( S ) he was one of a large group ( considered )... sympathizers with Judaism, believers in the one God, but who had not yet become ' proselytes ' or taken the final step to conversion to Judaism ''. Because these encounters and events take place `` in what is now Europe, '' Lydia is considered `` the first ' European ' Christian convert ''. Profession `` Thyatira in the province of Lydia ( located in what is now western Turkey ) was famous for the red ( variety of purple ) dye ''. Lydia of Thyatira is most known as a `` seller '' or merchant of purple cloth, which is the likely reason for the Catholic Church naming her `` patroness of dyers. '' It is unclear as to if Lydia simply dealt in the trade of purple dye or whether her business included textiles as well, though all known icons of the saint depict her with some form of purple cloth. Most portray this holy woman wearing a purple shawl or veil, which allows many historians and theologians to believe that she was a merchant of specifically purple cloth. Social status There is some speculation regarding Lydia 's social status. Theologians disagree as to whether Lydia was a free woman or servant. `` There is no direct evidence that Lydia had once been a slave, but the fact that her name is her place of origin rather than a personal name suggests this as at least a possibility ''. Ascough cites other examples of noble women named Lydia from the first or second centuries, so it is unlikely that she was actually a slave or servant. Marital status Because women did not possess the same equality rights as modern women, it appears unusual that Lydia would be capable of inviting a group of foreign men to her house without a man 's consent. `` The fact that there is no mention of a man has been used to deduce that she was a widow, but this has been challenged as a patriarchal interpretation ''. Lydia 's evident social power exemplified by her control of a household and ownership of a house ( which she offered to St. Paul and his companions ) indicates that she was most likely a free woman and possibly a widow. Feast day Many Christian denominations recognize Lydia of Thyatira as a saint, though her feast day varies greatly. In the Catholic Church, her feast day is August 3. The Episcopal Church honors St. Lydia along with Sts. Dorcas and Phoebe with a feast day in its liturgical calendar on January 27, the day after the remembrance of the early male missionaries Timothy, Titus and Silas, and two days after the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Therefore, she is honored on that date. Eastern Orthodox Churches remember Lydia on various days, with some jurisdictions remembering her twice during a liturgical year. Many Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Self - Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, remember St. Lydia on May 20. However, some divisions of the Russian Orthodox Church ( other than the Orthodox Church in America ) observe both June 25 and March 27 as her feast days. The Lutheran community is also divided. The ELCA commemorates Sts. Lydia, Dorcas and Phoebe on January 27, while the LCMS celebrates the three women on October 25. Devotion Devotion to St. Lydia is greater in the Orthodox Church than in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, and this is evident by the myriad of icons depicting this woman. The Orthodox Churches have given her the title of `` Equal to the Apostles, '' which signifies her importance and level of holiness. There is a church located in Philippi, which many consider to be built in St. Lydia 's honor. A modern baptistry is located on the traditional site where Lydia was baptized by St. Paul near Philippi as well. See also Saints portal Deborah Feminist theology Junia ( New Testament person ) Phoebe References ^ Jump up to : Cumming, John ( 1998 ). Butler 's Lives of the Saints. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 24. Jump up ^ Grudem, Wayne ( 1994 ). Systematic Theology. IVP. p. 693. Jump up ^ Ascough, Richard S. ( 2009 ). Lydia : Paul 's Cosmopolitan Hostess. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 27. Jump up ^ Hahn, Scott ( 2002 ). The Acts of the Apostles Revised Standard Version ( Second Catholic Edition ). San Francisco, CA : Ignatius Press. p. 45. ^ Jump up to : Cumming, John ( 1998 ). Butler 's Lives of the Saints. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 25. Jump up ^ Cumming, John ( 1998 ). Butler 's Lives of the Saints. Collgeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 24. Jump up ^ Ascough, Richard S. ( 2009 ). Lydia : Paul 's Cosmopolitan Hostess. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 50. Jump up ^ Ascough, Richard S. ( 2009 ). Lydia : Paul 's Cosmopolitan Hostess. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. p. 7. Jump up ^ Ascough, Richard S. ( 2009 ). Lydia : Paul 's Cosmopolitan Hostess. Collegeville, MN : The Liturgical Press. pp. 7, 32. Jump up ^ `` St. Lydia Purpuria ''. Jump up ^ Martyrologium Romanum ( Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ISBN 978 - 88 - 209 - 7210 - 3 ), p. 278 Jump up ^ `` The Saints of God : Holy Women, Holy Men '' ( PDF ). Episcopal Life Weekly. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2010 - 12 - 02. Jump up ^ Ἡ Ἁγία Λυδία ἡ Φιλιππησία. 20 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. ( in Greek ) Jump up ^ St Lydia of Philippisia. OCA - Feasts and Saints. Jump up ^ `` St. Lydia of Philippisia ''. The Self - Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Jump up ^ `` St. Lydia of Thyatira : First Christian Convert in Europe, Deaconess of Philippi ''. One Thing Needful ( Monastery News ). Jump up ^ Kitahata, Stacy. `` Bold Foremothers of Our Faith ''. Lutheran Woman Today. Archived from the original on 2012 - 04 - 06. Jump up ^ Kinnaman, Scot A. ( 2010 ). Lutheranism 101. St. Louis : Concordia Publishing House. p. 278. Jump up ^ `` Philippi ''. Sacred Destinations. External links SantiEBeati.it : Lydia of Thyatira New Testament people Jesus Christ In Christianity Historical Life in the New Testament Gospels Individuals Alphaeus Anna the Prophetess Annas Barabbas Bartimaeus Blind man ( Bethsaida ) Caiaphas Man born blind ( `` Celidonius '' ) Cleopas Clopas Devil Penitent thief ( `` Dismas '' ) Elizabeth Gabriel Impenitent thief ( `` Gestas '' ) Jairus ' daughter Joanna John the Baptist Joseph Joseph of Arimathea Joses Jude Lazarus Legion Luke Lysanias Malchus Martha Mary, mother of Jesus Mary Magdalene Mary, mother of James Mary of Bethany Mary of Clopas Naked fugitive Son of Nain 's widow Nathanael Nicodemus ( Nicodemus ben Gurion ) Salome Samaritan woman Satan Simeon Simon, brother of Jesus Simon of Cyrene Simon the Leper Simon the Pharisee Susanna Syrophoenician woman Theophilus Zacchaeus Zebedee Zechariah Groups Angels Jesus 's brothers Demons Disciples Evangelists Female disciples of Jesus God - fearers Herodians Magi Myrrhbearers Nameless Pharisees Proselytes Sadducees Samaritans Sanhedrin Scribes Seventy disciples Shepherds Zealots Apostles Andrew Bartholomew James of Alphaeus ( James the Less ) James of Zebedee Evangelist Patmos `` Disciple whom Jesus loved '' Judas Iscariot Jude Thaddeus Matthew Philip Simon Peter Simon the Zealot Thomas Acts Aeneas Agabus Ananias ( Damascus ) Ananias ( Judaea ) Ananias son of Nedebeus Apollos Aquila Aristarchus Barnabas Blastus Cornelius Demetrius Dionysius Dorcas Elymas Egyptian Ethiopian eunuch Eutychus Gamaliel James, brother of Jesus Jason Joseph Barsabbas Judas Barsabbas Judas of Galilee Lucius Luke Lydia Manaen ( John ) Mark Evangelist cousin of Barnabas Mary, mother of ( John ) Mark Matthias Mnason Nicanor Nicholas Parmenas Paul Philip Priscilla Prochorus Publius Rhoda Sapphira Sceva Seven Deacons Silas / Silvanus Simeon Niger Simon Magus Sopater Sosthenes Stephen Theudas Timothy Titus Trophimus Tychicus Zenas Romans Herod 's family Gospels Antipas Archelaus Herod the Great Herodias Longinus Philip Pilate Pilate 's wife Quirinius Salome Tiberius Acts Agrippa Agrippa II Berenice Cornelius Drusilla Felix Festus Gallio Lysias Paullus Epistles Achaicus Alexander Andronicus Archippus Aretas IV Carpus Claudia Crescens Demas Diotrephes Epaphras Epaphroditus Erastus Eunice Euodia and Syntyche Herodion Hymenaeus Jesus Justus John the Presbyter Junia Lois Mary Michael Nymphas Olympas Onesimus Onesiphorus Pudens Philemon Philetus Phoebe Quartus Sosipater Tertius Revelation Antipas Four Horsemen Apollyon Two witnesses Woman Beast Three Angels Whore of Babylon Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lydia_of_Thyatira&oldid=841931964 '' Categories : 1st - century Christian female saints Ancient Philippi Saints from Roman Anatolia Converts to Christianity from pagan religions People in Acts of the Apostles Women in the New Testament Lydians Ancient Roman women Christian saints from the New Testament 1st - century Romans Hidden categories : Articles with Greek - language external links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2016 Articles containing Greek - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Kiswahili Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski தமிழ் 8 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 May 2018, at 01 : 40. 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Question: what is a seller of purple in the bible
Answer: merchant of purple cloth