Lydia of Philippi

St. Lydia of Philippi, the first European convert of the Apostle Paul.

St. Lydia of Philippi holds a beloved place in the Church as the first person baptized by the Apostle Paul on European soil. A seller of purple goods from Thyatira, she was a devout worshipper of God, and as she listened to Paul by the riverside at Philippi the Lord opened her heart to receive the Gospel. She was baptized with her whole household and welcomed the Apostles into her home.

Her hospitality made her house the first gathering place of the church at Philippi, and she is honored as Equal-to-the-Apostles in Greek tradition. She is commemorated on May 20.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Lydia of Philippi is commemorated on May 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 2 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Lydia, Lidia

Also commemorated on May 20

• Thalleleos the Unmercenary

  Martyr, Θαλλέλαιος ο Ανάργυρος

  Holy Martyr Thalleleos the Unmercenary physician of Aegae, beheaded under Numerian.

  Name days: Thalelaios, Thalleleos, Thaleleos, Thallelaeus

• Founders of Nea Moni: Niketas, John and Joseph

  Venerable, Νικήτας, Ιωάννης και Ιωσήφ της Νέας Μονής Χίου

  Venerable Niketas, John and Joseph, hermits of Chios and founders of the Nea Moni.

• Thalassios the Libyan

  Venerable, Θαλάσσιος

  Venerable Thalassios of Libya, abbot and spiritual writer, friend of Saint Maximos the Confessor.

  Name days: Thalassios

• Alexander and Asterios

  Martyr, Αλέξανδρος και Αστέριος

  Holy Martyrs Alexander and Asterios, converted by Saint Thalleleos and martyred with him.

  Name days: Asterios, Asterius

• Translation of the Relics of Nicholas to Bari

  Saint, Ανακομιδή Λειψάνων Αγίου Νικολάου

  Commemoration of the translation of the relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari.

• Zabulon and Sosanna

  Saint, Ζαβουλών και Σωσάννα

  Righteous Zabulon and Sosanna, parents of Saint Nina, Enlightener of Georgia.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.