Saint Lydia of Macedonia (Modern Turkey)

Greek

First Century Christian

Born: Thyatira, Asia Minor

Died: Phillipi, Greek Macedonia

Patron saint of dyers, luxury goods, businesswomen

Lydia was the first European convert to First Century Christianity as well as a successful businesswoman who endowed the social respectability that she was a leader in her community and her craft. Lydia traded purple cloth in a time where it was considered an extremely rare luxury good that was reserved for only the wealthy. She was a hospitable and generous woman who was independent from male domination but became a partner with the Lord alone.

Illustrated in deep purple hues, Lydia reveals her wealthy demeanor. Clothed in the textiles she was known to have sold she is wrapped in the security that elevated her to a prominent position in her society as a trader of these luxury goods. Likely, Greek in ethnicity Lydia wears the typical ancient dress of first century Macedonia. The floral expression on her inner gown are the rendering of madder flowers grown in the area in which she is living that are necessary to create the most brilliant of fabric dye. The contrasting blue turquoise color for Lydia’s backdrop represents the unique plentiful water that would have contributed to the process of creating the deep purplish hues of the textiles she sold.

A determined woman Lydia was able to master not only the sale within a guilded craft dominated by males but retained the ability to be humble and teachable.