Pope Shenouda III
The saints who departed are still living The Lord explained this fact when He said: "...have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matt.22: 31,32). Therefore those saints are still living. Why should we consider them dead and not ask their prayers?
We should not forget as well the appearance of Moses and Elijah with the Lord Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses died fourteen centuries before the birth of Christ and is still living just as Elijah who was taken up to heaven. Their souls did not die; they are in Paradise and they see more than we do.