Product Details

• Actors: Artist Not Provided
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Janson Media
• DVD Release Date: February 13, 2004
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B0001M2CAS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,338 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This DVD features two half-hour documentaries and ten previews.

CROAGH PATRICK, Ireland
In the 4th century A.D. the monk Patrick travelled to pagan Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. Patrick won the population over by integrating venerated pagan symbols, like the sun, into the Christian faith. Croagh Patrick, a mountain on Ireland’s wild western coast, is such a symbol. During a dispute with the druids, Patrick was challenged to fast for forty days and forty nights on their holy mountain. "Our gods will destroy you," they threatened. Patrick accepted their challenge. After forty days and nights on the mountain, he made his descent, none the worse for wear. From then onward, his influence grew by leaps and bounds. To this day Saint Patrick remains the patron saint of Ireland. Every Irishman climbs Croagh Patrick at least once in his life, as his ancestors did even before the dawn of the Christian era.

IONA, Scotland
A small island off the western coast of Scotland was of vital importance to the earliest years of the Christianization of England and Northern Europe. An Irish monk named Columba came to Iona in the 6th century to spread the Christian faith. Right up to the present day, many pilgrims have followed and continue to follow in Columba’s footsteps. The journey to Iona is a long one. Since there is no direct connection by boat from the mainland, one must travel via the island of Mull. As Iona comes into view, one can also see the outline of the old abbey, which is where the present community of Iona is housed. Hundreds of people stay at the abbey during their visit, and it is an ever-changing population, an ecumenical community. Most of the guests stay here for a week, to study, to talk and to pray and meditate amidst the peace and quiet of the island.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Grade B Documentary, January 28, 2009

By	John D. Dooley "PhiloX" (Southern California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Great Idea but lacking in production with bad sound quality & a few video like flaws on a single DVD. Mostly a documentary of what happens during 2 main Pilgrimages of Croagh Patrick in Ireland & the Island of Iona in Scotland. What brings the review score down is the Grade B performance from an unnamed woman acting as a historical narrator in a library. In fact, I believe the words she uses are listed above in the Amazon.com description. It would be better for her just to speak during the documentary rather than act out like she is thinking about the words. Therefore as long as the DVD stays with the "Real" events it is worth watching. The 1st main Pilgrimage is of Ireland's western mountain Croagh Patrick where Saint Patrick stood the Pagan fasting test of 40 days & nights all within a modern Roman Catholic perspective. The other main Pilgrimage is on the Scottish Island of Iona where a famous monastery was built. This Pilgrimage gives more of an ecumenical outlook were the Eucharist celebration at the end comes close to a Jewish Sedar with its large loaf of bread (Challah or Holly) that is passed around with several large cups of wine. Many of the participates from both Pilgrimages reveal the reasons why they go on a Pilgrimage & what they learn or what questions they have learned to ask. Both of these Pilgrimages were originally Eastern Orthodox or Celtic Christian (before 1066 AD or William the Conqueror) but have taken on mostly Roman Catholic rites with a few Protestant overtones. Today some Eastern Orthodox Christians also make these Pilgrimages but there is no mention of this in the DVD. The Pilgrimages need more historcal background to raise the review rating. There is too much information on what the Pilgrimages are now rather than what they were throughout their history. There are about 10 other short western to near eastern European (Poland & Bosnia for example) Pilgrimages on the DVD extras section, yet most are from a Roman Catholic perspective. The DVD extras section set-up is rather un-logical & you may find yourself pushing the wrong button & entering the wrong preview. No inside information is included, just a bare DVD with its outside cover. The same Music seems to repeat throughout with a few other folk tunes added in here & there.