Saint Lydia was born in Thyatira, a town famous for its dye works. She was a seller of purple dye and was St. Paul’s first convert at Philippi, making her the widely held first convert to Christianity from Europe. The following is from the Acts of the Apostles:
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, did hear: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to those things which were said by Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. – Acts 16:14-15
She and her entire household were baptized, which probably included young children. Thereafter, Paul made his home with her while in Philippi.
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