An American priest offers marriage in front of the relics of St. Ivan Rilski.

American Orthodox priest Timothy, a lecturer in liturgical music and accordion in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, proposed marriage to his future presbytera (American believer) during a pilgrimage trip to the Rila Monastery over the weekend (most likely on June 20, 2025). This added a personal nuance to the otherwise strictly spiritual atmosphere of the liturgy, led by Bishop Clement. The service included hymns in English, performed by Protopsalt Mikhail Habtezian, which is part of the traditional practice of the parish in Santa Rosa, where the services gather people from different ethnicities and denominations. The pilgrimage trip was dedicated to spiritual support and strengthening the ties between Bulgarian Orthodox and believers abroad.