Lydia of Thyatira was Paul’s first European convert. She was a Gentile woman living in Philippi who, like many others, was interested in the Jewish faith, but had not converted. As what the Jewish community called a “God-fearer,” she was undoubtedly accorded some level of respect by the Jewish community, but would not have been treated as a full member of the Jewish community in Philippi.

Paul encountered her on a riverbank where she and a group of women had gathered for Sabbath prayers. Paul and his companions began to talk with the women, and God “opened her heart” to hear what Paul had to say about Christ and the Gospel. Lydia believed what she heard and, as was the custom when the head of a household converted, her whole household was baptized along with her.

Lydia was a prosperous cloth merchant and had the means to offer hospitality to the apostles during their time in Philippi. Her home, having served as a base of operations for Paul and his companions, became the location of a house church in Philippi. Although she is not mentioned by name outside of Acts 16, her significant role in enabling the spread of the Gospel in Philippi has led to her recognition as a saint in a wide range of Christian traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and many Protestant traditions. In the Orthodox Church, she is given the title “Equal to the Apostles” for her role in spreading the Christian faith.

Excerpted directly from “Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022,” p. 238-239.