Dusty Feasts

By Dusty on July 31, 2024

Official feasts used to be an important part of the human community. People would gather together to remember something sacred, express their faith and hope for the future, and / or just be together formally, recognizing each other as being part of a shared community. Few things express a desire for shared companionship and social intimacy more than dining together. Sadly, the gathering together for feasting is increasingly a relic of the past – at least here in the West.

It need not be so! Today we will remember the ancient feasts.

The Feast Day of St. Lydia of Thyatira

This Feast Day of St. Lydia is a Christian religious celebration of St. Lydia, a first century woman who is considered to be the first Christian convert from the continent of Europe.

Who is St. Lydia of Thyatira?

Lydia of Thyatira (Greek: Λυδία) is a woman mentioned in the New Testament who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have designated her a saint.

Lydia of Thyatira and Philippi

The name, "Lydia", meaning "the Lydian woman", by which she was known indicates that she was from Lydia in Asia Minor. Though she is commonly known as "St. Lydia" or even more simply "The Woman of Purple," Lydia is given other titles: "of Thyatira," "Purpuraria," and "of Philippi ('Philippisia' in Greek)." "[Lydia's] name is an ethnicon, deriving from her place of origin". The first refers to her place of birth, which is a city in the ancient region of Lydia (modern-day Akhisar, Turkey). The second comes from the Latin word for purple and relates to her connection with purple dye. Philippi (modern-day Macedonia (Greece)) was the city in which Lydia was living when she met St. Paul and his companions. All these titles expound upon this woman's background.

New Testament narrative

Acts 16 describes Lydia as follows:

A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." So she persuaded us.

— Acts 16:14–15 World English Bible

Wayne Grudem sees the story of Lydia as being an example of effectual calling.

Background

Lydia was most likely from Greek background, since originating from Thyatira, Asia Minor, but probably romanized one, while she lived in a Roman settlement. She was evidently a well-to-do agent of a purple-dye firm in Thyatira, a city southeast of Pergamum and approximately 40 miles (64 km) inland, across the Aegean Sea from Athens. Lydia insisted on giving hospitality to Apostle Paul and his companions in Philippi. They stayed with her until their departure, through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica (Acts 16:40–17:1).

Paul, Silas and Timothy were traveling through the region of Philippi when they encounter "a reputable businesswoman and possibly a widow... [who] was a righteous Gentile or 'God-fearer' attracted to Judaism". "[S]he was one of a large group [considered]... sympathizers with Judaism, believers in the one God, but who had not yet become 'proselytes' or taken the final step to conversion to Judaism".

Because these encounters and events take place "in what is now Europe," Lydia is considered "the first 'European' Christian convert".

Lydia of Thyatira by Harold Copping

Profession

"Thyatira in the province of Lydia (located in what is now western Turkey) was famous for the red [variety of purple] dye". Lydia of Thyatira is most known as a "seller" or merchant of purple cloth, which is the likely reason for the Catholic Church naming her "patroness of dyers." It is unclear as to if Lydia simply dealt in the trade of purple dye or whether her business included textiles as well, though all known icons of the saint depict her with some form of purple cloth. Most portray this holy woman wearing a purple shawl or veil, which allows many historians and theologians to believe that she was a merchant of specifically purple cloth.

Social status

There is some speculation regarding Lydia's social status. Theologians disagree as to whether Lydia was a free woman or servant. "There is no direct evidence that Lydia had once been a slave, but the fact that her name is her place of origin rather than a personal name suggests this as at least a possibility". Ascough cites other examples of noble women named Lydia from the first or second centuries, so it is unlikely that she was actually a slave or servant. Furthermore, the book of Acts records, "When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. 'If you consider me a believer in the Lord,' she said, 'come and stay at my house.' And she persuaded us." This implies that Lydia was in charge of the household, as she was able to persuade the household to be baptised, and had authority in the home to invite Paul and his companions to stay in her house – both things that a servant would be far less able to do.

Marital status

Baptism of Lydia by Marie Ellenrieder, 1861

Because women did not possess the same equality rights as modern women, it appears unusual that Lydia would be capable of inviting a group of foreign men to her house without a man's consent. "The fact that there is no mention of a man has been used to deduce that she was a widow, but this has been challenged as a patriarchal interpretation". Lydia's evident social power exemplified by her control of a household and ownership of a house (which she offered to St. Paul and his companions) indicates that she was most likely a free woman and possibly a widow.

For a short video biography of St. Lydia, I recommend you watch the one below:

What do you eat for the Feast Day of St. Lydia of Thyatira?

Given her association with the color purple, I needed to go and search for a feast day recipe to incorporate it. I found a good one!

via saintsfeastfamily.com

On this day, I can just imagine a bunch of ladies hanging out with their friends laughing and enjoying life with an amazing afternoon tea themed purple… Earl Grey Lavender Cupcakes and all things purple like maybe purple sangria, purple sweet potato cheesecake or maybe roasted purple cauliflower! Have fun with whatever you do!

Earl Grey Lavender Cupcakes

Makes 18 cupcakes
Ingredients

2 ½ cups flour, sifted

2 ½ tsp baking powder, sifted

¼ teaspoon salt

8 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 ¾ cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract

1 ¼ cups whole milk

½ cup extra-strong lavender earl grey tea, cooled

2 teaspoon lavender sugar (optional)
Frosting

16 tablespoon unsalted butter

4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon whole milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon salt

¼ cup extra-strong lavender earl grey tea, cooled

¼ teaspoon purple food color

Directions for the cupcake

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Line 2 cupcake pans with 18 baking cups.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl (dry mixture).

Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.

Combine the vanilla extract and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.

Reduce the speed to low.

Add one-third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add one-third of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated.

Add another one-third of the dry mixture, followed by one-third of the wet.

Stop to scrape down the bowl as needed.

Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat just until combined.

Mix in the cooled lavender earl grey tea (and lavender sugar) until fully incorporated. Scoop batter into baking cups and bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Directions for the frosting

Place the unsalted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the confectioner's sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Add the vanilla extract, milk, salt, tea, and purple food color, and beat on high speed until light and airy.

What is a prayer you might say for the Feast Day of St. Lydia of Thyatira?

via syromalabargw.org

Pour out upon us, Lord, the spirit of knowledge and love of you, with which you filled your handmaid blessed Lydia, so that, serving you sincerely in imitation of her, we may be pleased by our faith and our works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

When is the Feast Day of St. Lydia celebrated?

In the Catholic Church, her feast day is August 3.

The Episcopal Church honors St. Lydia in its liturgical calendar on May 21, while the Anglican Church in North America remembers St. Lydia on January 27.

Eastern Orthodox Churches remember Lydia on various days, with some jurisdictions remembering her twice during a liturgical year. Many Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, remember St. Lydia on May 20. However, some divisions of the Russian Orthodox Church (other than the Orthodox Church in America) observe both June 25 and March 27 as her feast days.

The Lutheran community is also divided. The ELCA commemorates Sts. Lydia, Dorcas and Phoebe on January 27, while the LCMS celebrates the three women on October 25.

I hope everyone who celebrates has a wonderful day!