The
carpentry workshop of Tome Lesica (1916-1989), the last self-taught Glagolitic
master on the island of Krk.
Tome
Lesica was a carpenter by trade. In addition, for decades he served as
sacristan, bell ringer, and sexton, that is, the person who takes care of the
church building and helps the priest in his duties. He also played a
traditional instrument called the sopile (sopele or roženice). He is best
remembered as Krk's last self-taught Glagolitic master commoner. He read
Glagolitic letters fluently "just like people read newspapers" (B.
Fučić). Shortly before he died, he left his last official Glagolitic record in
the Omišalj fraternity book 'Od duš' on the occasion of the consecration of
Josip Bozanić as the Bishop of Krk. During his life, he was regarded as an
important source in the study of the traditional heritage of Omišalj. Slavists
from all over Europe knew him and asked him regularly for advice, as did
ethnologists who studied topics related to the island of Krk. He performed his
carpentry in a workshop located next to the house in which he lived.