The belief of the Eastern Orthodox Church is that the Church consists not just of the living faithful but the departed as well and since no man departs this life free of sin, perfect, and holy he still need the mercy of God and our prayers. This is an article that expands on my thoughts: http://www.pravmir.com/article_596.htmlO God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the Devil, and given life to Thy world, do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, where all sickness, sighing, and sorrow have fled away. Pardon every transgression which they have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind; because there is no man who lives yet does not sin, for Thou only art without sin, Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy word is truth.
For Thou are the Resurrection, the Life, and the Repose of Thy servants who have fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen.
Any way, Sherlock will explain the Roman Catholic view of prayers for the departed and we are really interested to hear how Protestants view prayers for the departed and how they remember the departed in general.