Panthean temple
Encyclopedia
Origins and history
The Panthean Temple, abbreviated as PTC as the Panthean Temple of Connecticut, is located in New Haven County, ConnecticutNew Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
and was the first Pagan and Wiccan church
Wiccan church
Wiccan churches are a type of organization found within some groups of Wicca, particularly in North America. While in Europe Wicca is most often organized into independent covens, in the United States some covens choose to combine to form a "church". Churches are often formed from hive covens...
to incorporate in the state of Connecticut under its first name of the "Pagan Community Church," and is a non-profit 501(c)3 religious organization. It was founded by Rev. Alicia Lyon Folberth, in 1995.
Practices
The Panthean Temple is open to Witches and Pagans of all traditions who honor harm none, which they consider to be a universal tenet of all true spiritual paths. Their practices are devotional, and are primarily Odyssean tradition, although individual public rituals may vary depending on the people leading them and the traditions they practice, but do not consider themselves eclectic.Panthean Temple Membership consists of several levels corresponding with participation: Affiliate, Full Membership, Outer Court, and Inner Court.
Odyssean Wicca has its roots within British Traditional Wicca
British Traditional Wicca
British Traditional Wicca is a term used to describe some Wiccan traditions which have their origins in the New Forest region of England...
but like the Wiccan Church of Canada, the temple's purpose is to provide public ministry services, such as open worship, rites of passage, and prison and hospital visitations. The Panthean Temple is notable for its large festival, "Beltaine: A Pagan Odyssey," which began in 1999.