Alpha

1
Alpha Omega
I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord
God, the one who is and who was and who is to
come, the almighty(Rev 18). Alpha and Omega
symbolize the power and perfection of God. In the
book of Revelation, God appears to John and tells
him to send letters to the seven churches in
Asia, telling them of his vision of God. Do not
be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one
who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive
forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and
the netherworld(Rev 117-18). The origin of
alpha and omega comes from the Jewish church,
where Jews regard God as perfect both in truth
(Emeth) and goodness. Truth is more powerful than
goodness, and it is composed of three letters
Aleph (Alpha), Mem (My), and Thaw (Theta). Aleph
and Thaw are the first and last letters of Hebrew
alphabet, just as Alpha and Omega are the first
and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Although
Alpha and Omega do not hold the same root
meanings as Aleph and Thaw, both usages of the
first and last letters show that God is the
beginning and the end, and encompasses
everything. Alpha and Omega together became the
crest of Christ, and Catholic priests wear it on
their vestments as a symbol of God.
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Janus
Janus is the Roman guardian of gates and doors
and symbolizes the bridge between the primitive
and civilization. Since one enters a door to get
to a new place, Janus is considered to be the god
of beginnings. Janus was worshipped on the first
day of every month as well as before the
beginnings of important events (weddings, births,
harvest season), and the name Janus has the same
root meaning as the word January that comes from
the Etruscan word jauna (door). Janus is said to
have been a mortal from Thesally who married
Camese and ruled the kingdom of Latium with her.
When Camese died, Janus became the sole ruler of
Latium and brought about the Golden Age. After
Janus died, he was deified and became the
Protector of the City of Rome. In honor of
Janus, the Ianus Geminus was erected in Rome-one
door facing towards the rising sun and the other
towards the setting sun. Open gates meant that
Rome was at war, and closed gates meant that the
city was at peace. When the Sabines attacked Rome
(the Ianus Geminus was open), Janus made a hot
spring come out of the ground, preventing them
from ascending the hill and hurting the Romans.
After this, the Romans kept the gates open during
times of war in order to allow Janus to help them
if needed.
What is the connection between Janus and alpha
and omega?
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Works Cited
http//www.newadvent.org/cathen/01332b.htm http//
www.pantheon.org/articles/j/janus.html http//www.
novareinna.com/festive/janus.html