ALBANY – A former 19th century inn housing a pagan group whose beliefs hold that the divine female is the source of all earthly life is entitled to a religious exemption from property taxes, a state appeals court has ruled.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, overturned an August 2012 ruling by Acting Albany Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin (See Profile) in finding in favor of the Maetreum of Cybele in its tax dispute with the town of Catskill, Greene County.