Two rivers flow through Bucharest. The one called Dâmboviţa, flows through the city centre, and the second one, its affluent, Colentina, builds on the outskirts of the city nine lakes. Right before its mouth to the Dâmboviţa, the Colentina river builds one last lake, the Cernica Lake.
On the two islands on this lake, the Minister of the Interiors of Valahia, Cernica, founds at the beginning of the 17th century a monastery, which was named, like the lake and the nearby village, after its founder. More than a century ahead, the monks of Cernica quit this place, which henceforth started to perish. Towards the end of the 18th century only, came another monk, who was initiated in the secrets of the church of the East by the Monk’s Republic of the Mount of Athos, today’s Greece. Because of his meditations and fasts, he was recognised by the monks as a spiritual father. He is the second founder of the monastery.
If one visits the monastery nowadays (it is located about 20 km from the city centre in South-Eastern direction), one will be surprised not to find any islands. From the main road, an avenue goes down almost to the level of the Cernica Lake. A causeway has been built to the first island. There, protected by strong walls, is the main church of the Cernica Monastery. It has been built the last century by an other abbot of the Monastery, who canonised the Romanian Church. It is the Holy Calinic, who was schooled at the Mount Athos as well. Calinic has been buried in the church, in a shrine with carvings in wood that depict scenes from his life. Many believers of the Romanian Capital go to this church on Sundays or on religious holidays. Many people who are sick come here too, as it is said that the Holy Calinic makes wonders in the afterlife as well.
The oldest church of Cernica is located on the second island, which is in turn connected to the first via a causeway. Around it, a graveyard has been built, where many personalities Romania’s have been buried, including the painter Ţuculescu. A self-portrait of his became soon famous, as the painter did not paint a mouth, a sign that the communist censorship did not allow him to express freely.
One of Ceaşescu’s plans were to make Bucharest a port at the Danube, building thus a canal up the Argeş and Dâmboviţa rivers. Thereby, the Cernica Lake and the old church with the graveyard should have disappeared under the water level. The project has been stopped by the Revolution in December 1989, and has been never re-opened since, as the Cernica Monastery is one of the places that the inhabitants of Bucharest like most.
For ready-made tours, check out the site of 3 MT Tours or write them an email.