On the edge of the hustle and bustle of Bucharest, beneath the tranquil waves of Morii Lake (Mill Lake - Lacul Morii), lies a story buried in time and water. It is a story about a cemetery and an old church, which, although no longer visible on the surface, remain part of the city's history, a history forgotten by many but preserved in the depths.

Cemetery and church - buried under water

Beneath the still waters of Morii Lake lies a story forgotten by many but still haunting the collective memory of the city. On the spot where the lake's waves stretch out today, the Crângași community once pulsed with life, with its modest houses, dusty streets and, above all, an imposing church and a cemetery steeped in history. 

But in the 1980s, the communist regime decided to turn the area into a reservoir to protect the city from flooding. More than 400 houses, two schools, the church and the cemetery were condemned to disappear. Residents were forced to leave their homes and families were given a deadline to move their dead to other cemeteries. The short time and conditions meant that many graves were not moved in time, and bulldozers leveled the ground, leaving a gaping wound in the heart of the community.  

According to some locals and historians, the church was one of the oldest in the area, a place where services were held for centuries. When the lake was developed, the church was demolished and what was left of it was submerged in water, never to be restored or returned to the public. 

An untold story

Over the decades, Morii Lake has been a silent witness to all that has gone on around it, but the story of the cemetery and church remains almost unknown. In an era when city development seems to be replacing the past with an increasingly modern future, these forgotten underwater places are a reminder that behind every building are stories worth telling.

But legend also speaks of living reminders that are hard to ignore. After the lake was filled in, coffins and bones were seen floating on the surface of the water, and fishermen tell of strange sounds heard at dawn, like the sound of pounding metal. These stories have fueled the myth that Lake Mill is haunted by the souls of those whose graves have been desecrated. 

A place of meditation? 

Today, Morii Lake is a place of recreation for the people of Bucharest, with walking paths, bike paths and a relaxing atmosphere, but with every wave that crashes against its shores, you can hear the echo of a lost history. Although the water has covered the cemetery and the church, it has failed to erase their memory.

If you ever find yourself on the lakeside, you may look into the depths with a new curiosity, searching for those traces of a past that is no longer visible but still lives on in the untold stories of the city. Perhaps, after all, Mill Lake is not only a place of recreation, but also a silent gateway to a forgotten world, covered by water, but always present.

Also recommened: Lacul Morii – the only promenade of the Capital or a wasted opportunity?