Lydia of Thyatira

Lydia of Thyatira stands in layered robes with rich purple garments beneath her veil, holding a dark cord in her hands as a sign of her trade and household life. Her upward gaze gives the figure a contemplative dignity, presenting the woman named in Acts as a worshiper of God whose heart was opened to receive the message preached by Paul. In the biblical account, Lydia was a seller of purple goods, a trade associated with costly dye and commerce, and she became one of the first recorded converts connected with Paul’s ministry in Philippi. The portrait highlights her faith, attentiveness, and the quiet strength of a woman who welcomed the gospel and opened her home for Christian fellowship. by Jeff Preston