The Royal Pantheon is an offshoot of the Old Religion (Path of Harmony) that worships the two royal sisters and a few lesser deities. Followers believe these goddesses represent certain aspects and these are reflected within everyday life. The goddesses are believed omniscient and eternal, their physical manifestation is ages prior merely a small phase within their timeless existence. They are a guiding force for pony souls, and that every pony soul is seeking reunification with the goddesses in the afterlife. Through faith in the pantheon, and following the way of harmony expressed in the greater Old Religion's teachings, pony souls can find their way to a perfect paradise where all ponies are ruled over by their goddesses with love and benevolence. Wicked souls that reject this salvation and sow chaos are instead sent to Tartarus by the goddesses' judgement, wherein a pony will suffer an uncomfortably long time in ways befitting of their sins.
The Royal Pantheon is not officially recognised nor a universal belief system. But it is popular enough amongst some ponies of the Old Religion and not subject to any ban or condemnations by religious authorities that would make it heretical. Some of the archimandrites of New Equestria and the instutions they sponsored adhere to the Royal Pantheon belief, such as the Harmonia Friendship School of Nickerby, founded by Harmonia XXXVII and named for Harmonia XXXVI.
Deities:
Celestia
Patron of: the sun, the day, rulership, life, light, destruction, justice
As the eldest of the two royal sisters and the one whose reign as Princess of Equestria with both longest and most notable, believers of the Royal Pantheon gravitate strongly towards her for her kind and just rule, the importance of her sun to all life, and her great power which she wields to protect her subjects. She is at the head of the Royal Pantheon, and nothing is believed to escape her knowledge, and all things in the universe happen because she wills it so. She is also regularly portrayed as the embodiment of magic, generosity and kindness. Especially from the time she and her sister Luna banishes Discord. As such, when a pony does not venerate one of the known bearers of these elements, they are held up as Celestia's Elements of Harmony and chief virtues alongside her other traits.
Luna
Patron of: the moon, the night, rejuvenation, foals, dreams, redemption
Remembered as the sister that became Nightmare Moon and was banished for a thousand years by her sister for seeking to bring eternal night, Luna's restoration and forgiveness by Celestia is held to be a key turning point by her followers. Although she is not held in as high regard as her sister, many believe that through Luna their own sins can be forgiven when true remorse is expressed. If even the most evil creature from pony mythology was redeemed, a mortal pony's transgressions can be forgiven to, after all. Despite her deception and betrayal as Nightmare Moon, Luna is still seen as the bearer of honesty, loyalty and laughter alongside her sister in some sources. Luna is also often depicted as a dreamwalker, able to enter a pony's dreams and shape them to suit her needs. She is often said to do so in order to help a pony overcome their fears, foals in particular. Luna is believed to be quite fond of young ones, including orphans. Although some doctors dispute Luna's dreamwalking as a manifestation of the subconscious imagination that comes out in dreams, her worshippers insist their goddess continues to watch over their dreams and keeps appearing to them long after the Catastrophe that led to the royal sisters' disappearance.
Cadence
Patron of: love, fertility, beauty, war, soldiers
Cadence (or sometimes called Mi Amora Cadenza) is a lesser deity, below the two sisters who is nonetheless popular with a select number of Royal Pantheon worshippers. Although taken more seriously and with greater reference by those seeking love or safety in times of strife, there exists a less disciplined cult around her being that promotes a more lascivious lifestyle among its adherents. The 'parties' these ponies hold within their shrines are all about spreading love to those who attend them and beyond with great passion and intimacy, often involving copious amounts of cider and communion wine. Scandalous as they are perceived by the more uptight ponies, religious leaders of the Royal Pantheon have yet to condemn any but the most excessive cases. There have also been many poems, paintings and instructions written on the art of lovemaking by followers of Cadence that capture the fantasies of their heavily blushing audience. When not celebrated for a bon vivant lifestyle, she is also praised as a source of military leadership, and some even claim her to be the mother of another alicorn princess. A claim that has been vocally condemned as heresy, and can lead to intense arguments within the public forum whenever it is suggested to be true.
Twilight Sparkle
Patron of: magic, students, friendship, knowledge, books
Twilight Sparkle is considered Celestia's protégé and bearer of the Element of Magic. Her divinity as a lesser deity or simply a saint is subject to some debate. But the Royal Pantheon holds her up as one of the four alicorn goddesses and therefore of divine nature. Whatever the truth, she is held up as an example to believers and students of magic on how to find harmony. Diligent study and maintaining strong friendship are believed the key element to the Magic of Friendship she represents, and even necessary to finding Harmony through which ponies may achieve enlightenment and reward in the afterlife. Though scholars, particularly those who favour Cadence, believe love to be the greater magic than friendship, they concede that without the Magic of Friendship, there can be no Power of Love, and this makes Twilight Sparkle the lesser deity that ties back to all the other goddesses.