Janus

What do Peter, January and the school custodian have in common? All have a share in the latin word ianus (janus). Janus was the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, including doors and passages, and the one for whom January -- the gateway to the new year -- was named. Janitor, which has come to emphasize cleaning and maintenance, once meant a doorkeeper, so in early writings, the apostle Peter is called the "Janitor of Heaven," signifying his traditional role as keeper of the pearl gates.