Primož Trubar v Trstu nekoč in danes

Primož Trubar stayed and worked at Bishop Pietro Bonomo’s court in Trieste for three extended periods between 1524 and 1542. The cultural legacy of these stays is of exceptional value. It is there that the Slovene reformer absorbed the critical thought of Erasmus and Calvin, celebrated mass and preached in Slovene, sang in the cathedral choir, served as a notary witness and represented the diocese as an envoy, personally met Italian Protestants and became familiar with the conceptual rudiments of European Lutheranism, conceived the idea of translating the Bible into his native language, and came to clearly understand that his own Slovene »language could also be written and read, just like the languages of other nations.« This article reveals the roots of Slovene cultural identity described, presents the later tragic fate of Trubar’s books in the Trieste area, where they were burned, and highlights what is now, unfortunately, a complete absence of official local monuments commemorating the father of Slovene literature, culture, and language.