<P> Ideas that go beyond the gospel presentation of Mary Magdalene as a prominent representative of the women who followed Jesus have been put forward over the centuries . </P> <P> Mary Magdalene is considered to be a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches--with a feast day of July 22 . Other Protestant churches honor her as a heroine of the faith . The Eastern Orthodox churches also commemorate her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, the Orthodox equivalent of one of the Western Three Marys traditions . During the Middle Ages, Mary Magdalene was regarded in Western Christianity as a repentant prostitute or promiscuous woman, claims not found in any of the four canonical gospels . </P> <P> Mary (Mariam in Aramaic) was a very common name in New Testament times, held by a number of women in the canonical Gospels . The reception history of Mary Magdalene has been greatly affected by different interpretations that biblical references actually refer to her, beyond those where she is identified by the additional name "Magdalene". Historically, the Greek Orthodox church Fathers, as a whole, distinguished among what they believed were three Marys: </P> <Ul> <Li> The Virgin Mary, mother of Christ </Li> <Li> Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus Luke 10: 38--42 and John 11 John 12 . </Li> <Li> Mary Magdalene </Li> </Ul>

When did mary magdalene first appear in bible