On April 1, 2011, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of the Syro-Malabar Church of India died. Patriarch Sviatoslav sent his condolences to the faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church on behalf of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). The letter was sent to the administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church, Bishop Bosko Pufuru.
"I was very sad to learn that our dear brother, Supreme Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil found his resting place in the Lord. I would like to send to Your Beatitude and the members of the Hierarchical Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church our deepest condolences and support. Let the memory of Cardinal Varkey be eternal and let the Lord settle his soul with the righteous.
"On behalf of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, I would like to assure you that we will add our prayers to those of our brothers and sisters of the Syro-Malabar Church who grieve over the loss of their spiritual father.
"I would also like to assure Your Beatitude of my prayer for You while You lead Your church until the synod elects the successor of Cardinal Vithayathil," wrote Patriarch Sviatoslav.
According to the Information Department of the UGCC, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil sent a greeting address to the head of the UGCC on the occassion of his enthronement.
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the largest modern Eastern Catholic Churches: it includes nearly four million faithful. The church considers itself the successor of the "Christians of St. Thomas," whose community has lived in the south of India since the time of the apostles.