If I need proof that looking isn't the same as seeing, all I need to do is think back on my visit to the Church of Bet Mercurios in Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Now that I've looked at the photos from that visit, I realize the church houses three paintings of St. Abbo.

Until then, I hadn't the foggiest recollection of what I'd seen in Bet Mercurios, much less that I'd come across three very different interpretations of a distinctive story from Ethiopian religious history.

During such visits, would I be better off living in the moment and really seeing my surroundings instead of photographing them?

I think the answer is no. My memory is not photographic. Given how quickly visitors pass through these important sites, it would be astonishing if I could remember I'd seen three paintings illustrating the same story, much less remember the details.

With photographs, I'm effectively augmenting my memory, all the better for me and for anyone who views my photos of Ethiopia.

Now that we have that out of the way, a refresher is in order. According to flickerite PJBayens, who identified this saint for me in a painting several churches ago:

"Saint Gebre Menfes Kidus, more popularly known as Saint Abbo . . . founded the monastery on Mount Zuqwala (various spellings)."

"Like the Western St. Francis, he's portrayed with animals--and clothed in his own body hair. He's featured in one of the stained glass windows in the church of Tekle Haymanot in Debre Libanos."

This painting of St. Abbo is remarkable for the detail with which his clothing is rendered. Other paintings hint at this configuration and pattern, but this is the only painting in which the details of the clothing are fully realized. If you're wondering what that fabulous fabric is, go back a paragraph and re-read the description of St. Abbo.

Ok, so what about St. Abbo's posse of big cats?

Here, they're more realistic than their counterparts in other paintings, which is to say they're not goofy-looking cartoon characters.

In fact, this collection of lions and leopards is all business, staring intently at the viewer. With these beasts, I'd probably want to ask St. Abbo for permission to approach instead of sauntering up to the nearest lion and scratching it under the chin.

If you'd like to see all the paintings of St. Abbo I photographed in Ethiopia, please follow this link:

www.flickr.com/search/?q=abbo&w=40595948@N00