Name Lydia

Ancient Greek name (Λυδία) means - "girl from Lydia (Ancient Region of Western Anatolia)". Lydia was the first Christian woman in Europe mentioned in the Bible. In Lydia was the cult of Zeus, where his epithet Zeus of Lydian comes from. There is also an Indo-European Lydian language.

St Lydiya was born during the first century in Thyatira, a town famous for its dye works in Asia Minor, famous for its dye works, (hence, her name means purple seller). She was a seller of purple dye and was St. Paul`s first convert at Philippi.
She was baptized with her household. Thereafter, Paul made his home with her while in Philippi.
Lydia was a woman of hospitality, a woman of faith. As a successful businesswoman she most likely had a home spacious enough to welcome guests and to use her home as a Christian center, where others would gather for the Holy Mass and prayer. After Paul and Silas were released from prison, they went immediately to Lydia’s house to see and encourage the believers gathered there. Lydia served the Lord through her gift of hospitality by welcoming others into her home.

Her feast date is August 3.