Overview

Our Maetreum was established formally March 24, 1999 by Cathryn Platine  as the First Church of the Goddess with a private celebration.  She already was a  recognized (registered) clergy in Ohio.  The following March 20, 2000 we held the first public celebration at the Serpent Mound of south central Ohio while incorporating many elements of the ancient faith.  We began our practice of public celebrations of the solar quarters (equinoxes and solstices) this year.
Shown on the left are First Church founder Rev. Battakes Cathy Platine with friends at the first public Sanguem celebration at Serpent Mound March of 2000.


The following year our Sanguem celebration saw the initiation of two more priestesses.  Cathryn first published a website for the movement Aug of 2001 calling it the Metroac First Church of the Goddess  and establishing formally the beginnings of the Cybeline revival and beginning to specifically work on a structure based on historical research for the revived Cybeline Faith.

Cathryn moved to New York joining two others in purchasing and establishing Gallae Central House which started first as a women's housing collective.  August 18'th, 2002 was the first Conclave of Maetreum of Cybele, the establishment of Central House as the first Phygianum in 1600 years and the appointment of Cathryn Platine as the first Battakes also for more than 1600 years..

 February of 2003  the name was formally changed to the Maetreum of Cybele Magna Mater reflecting our establishment of a reclaimed organizational model..  Sanguem of 2004, renamed the Season of the Tree, saw the initiation of two new priestesses.  Another  joined the priestesshood June of 2004.

 Our 2005 celebration of the Season of the Tree marked another milestone with our partial restoration of much of the traditional mysteries and thus a "truer" initiation for the participants.  This year we also formally incorporated the Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater, Inc. in Greene County of New York, the home of the Phrygianum.  September of the year  the four priestess owners of Gallae Central House  formally transfer title of the property to the Maetreum.  We call Gallae Central House the Phrygianum because just as in ancient times, it is the home base and "convent" of the Cybeline priestess sisterhood.  Our main temple/grove is on the property and most of our celebrations take place here.  We run the Phrygianum by the Rule of the Women of Cybele.  Men are most welcome as guests but household membership is limited to women, primarily, but not limited to, novitiates and priestesses.


The year of 2006 was one of turmoil and reorganization of the movement.  Due to the reclaimed mysteries and a priestesshood  which also included those who had not participated actively in two years, several priestesses were placed on "inactive" status pending their re-involvement with the Maetreum and their undergoing our now basic Mysteries initiation.  

2007 is a rebuilding and healing of the damages done the prior year.  We achieved recognition as a 501 C(3) religious organization in the spring but the end of the fallout of the unpleasantness started the summer before  resulted in an almost non existent Season of the Tree celebration for the first time since our initial founding in 1999.  Gone are most of the priestesses elevated in prior years.


Today we regularly celebrate the new and full moons and the solar quarters and these celebrations are open to any wishing to join us   Our most important holiday is March 24, or Sanguem in the Metroac traditions of Anatolia, Greece and Rome celebrated as part of the Season of the Tree.  This is the day of rebirth/blood and  was also the traditional day of emasculation of the transsexual seekers to become Gallae.  It celebrates the day Attis, son of Cybele, died of his wounds under the sacred pine tree and was reborn as Cybele's daughter.




Our current officers are:

Rev. Mother Battakes Cathryn Platine --Battakes, First Battakes, duration of her natural life.
Rev. Mother Battakes Cathryn Platine --President and CEO,  term from 3/24/06 thru 3/24/09
Anne Davis --Treasurer, term from 6/1/07 thru 3/24/10
Sherry Davis --Secretary , term from 6/1/07 thur 3/24/08

Mailing address:
Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater
PO Box 468
Palenville, New York 12463
copyright 2005-2007, Cathryn Platine,  Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater.  All rights reserved.  These pages may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any electronic or print media without the express written permission of the copyright holder.