Commemoration 10/25/2023 (22nd Wednesday after Pentecost)

Today we commemorate Dorcas (also known as Tabitha), Lydia, and Phoebe, Faithful Women. These three faithful women exemplified what it means to live a Christian life. Tabitha is remembered for her charitable acts in Joppa, particularly for making clothing for the poor. When Tabitha died suddenly, Peter came from nearby Lydda and raised her from the dead. Lydia was a dealer in purple dye, an expensive and in-demand product in the ancient world; converted to Christianity by Paul’s preaching, Lydia became a patron of the church in Philippi. Phoebe was a deaconess in Cenchreae who delivered Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, in which Paul praises her support of the Church.