Question of the subject of 'memory eternal'

[Joseph A.]

When praying "Memory Eternal" for the souls of the departed, whose memory are we praying to be eternal? God's memory of the departed person? That they be remembered by their friends and relatives? That they forever be remembered in the prayers of the church? I think of all those Orthodox over the centuries, now nameless and faceless (even my own distant Orthodox ancestors), who are no longer remembered as individuals anymore. Is it enough that they are remembered in general prayers for the deceased? Is this what this prayer is asking for?
Thank you for considering these questions.
Joseph

[Herman Blaydoe]

There is a fascinating discussion of this subject here (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~karamazo/sheehan.html).

Herman the Literary Pooh

[Alice]

I once asked a priest this question. He said that we are praying for the deceased's memory to be eternal in the Kingdom of our God...