Description
Saint Lydia of Thyatira is shown in red robes and a pale head covering, holding a slender cross and an open scroll. This icon presents the woman remembered in Acts 16 for welcoming Paul's preaching at Philippi and opening her household to the Christian community.
Lydia in the Acts of the Apostles
A seller of purple cloth from Thyatira, Lydia heard Paul near a river at Philippi. She was baptized with her household and offered the missionaries lodging. Acts 16:40 places Paul and Silas at her home again after their release from prison.
Reading the cross and scroll
The cross expresses her Christian faith; it should not be taken as evidence that she died as a martyr. The scroll carries an invitation to proclaim the Gospel. It is part of the artist's interpretation, not a quotation recorded as Lydia's own words in Acts. Together, these attributes connect listening to the Gospel with making room for others.
A patronal image for the home
The icon can accompany personal prayer or a reading of Acts 16 in a home or parish setting. It is also a name-day or Confirmation gift for someone named Lydia. Her story offers a specific subject for reflection on baptism, hospitality and the contribution of women to the earliest Christian communities.
Made in Poland on linden wood
Art Christiana makes this icon to order on a linden-wood board with two coats of primer. The image is printed directly onto the prepared surface and finished with decorative gold-tone metal leaf (schlagmetal). A certificate bearing the production year and a hanging fixture are attached to the back.