August 3 - Memorial of St. Lydia Purpuraria

Today we remember St. Lydia Purpuraria. She was St. Paul's first known convert when he was at Philippi.

Purpuraria means purple seller and she was a seller of purple dye. Many thousands of tiny shells were crushed in order to make a single drop of dye. Purple dye was very expensive and reserved for people of great honor.

The recent studies of the tomb of St. Paul have found the presence of purple cloth wrapping his remains which is fitting.

St. Paul baptized her and her entire household. This is one of the first instances showing the tradition of the early Christians baptizing all, young and old.

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati'ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

~Acts 16:14-15