BBC Four HD

Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery

Documentaries

Factual

Religion & Ethics

Series which goes in search of inner peace in three monasteries around Britain.

Series which goes in search of inner peace in three monasteries around Britain, and provides a welcome retreat from the hectic pace of our daily lives.

Nikki Parrott

Luke Korzun Martin

Tigerlily Productions

Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery: Series 1: Episode 3: Belmont Abbey

Belmont Abbey

Episode 3

Episode 3: Belmont Abbey

Series 1

BBC Four - Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery, Series 1, Belmont Abbey

One monk is a renowned iconographer, while the other creates manuscripts and rosaries.

Series going in search of inner peace in three Benedictine monasteries. One monk is a renowned iconographer, while the other creates manuscripts and rosaries.

Belmont Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Herefordshire on the Welsh border. The monastery itself has a warm and inviting feel which is amplified by the colourful, 19th-century decor inside the building. The monks that we follow at Belmont are true craftsmen - one is a renowned iconographer and one of the best in the western world, while the other creates manuscripts and rosaries.

We follow renowned iconographer Father Alex who travels to Belmont from his native Peru every year to teach his skills. He is the superior of Belmont Abbey's sister monastery in Peru. He uses centuries-old techniques - mixing his own egg tempera paints, using pigments made from semi-precious stones and burnishing gold leaf - to create a striking icon of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Belmont Abbey.

We also meet Brother Bernard who makes rosaries - a devotional string of beads used in prayer. He uses pliers to link the beads, intricately threading them together to form the set of rosary beads which he then uses in private prayer.

Belmont Abbey's abbot, Father Paul, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the monastery. The majority of his duties are pastoral and religious, including running the services which take place throughout the day, leading the silent meals and creating an environment in which the monks can live and work in peace. He's also a dog lover and can often be seen walking his dog Toby through the monastery grounds. 'A wise man is known by the fewness of his words.' (Rule of St Benedict)

Filmed with an eye to the beauty and peace of the ancient surroundings, the film has a painterly quality that creates a feeling of restfulness and quiet contemplation. And by focusing on the natural sounds of nature and the peace of the abbey we have created a meditative soundtrack that adds to this unique experience.

Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery: Series 1

BBC Four

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery

Series 1

Episode 3: Belmont Abbey

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Four HD

About BBC Four