Marija left Medjugorje for the Soviet Union with her pastor, Fr. Leonard Orec and Bishop Pavel Hnilica from Czechoslovakia. They stayed in the Soviet Union for 10 days, visiting with many people and seeing how strong their faith was. Marija left the Soviet Union very enthusiastic about their future. Even Soviet border guards were asking Marija to pray for them and wanting religious articles. In October of 1981, Our Lady said:
“The Russian people will be the people who will glorify God the most. The West has made civilization progress, but without God, as if they were their own creators.â€