The Serb Orthodox Bishop of Osijek and Baranja, Lukijan, consecrated the ground in central Vinkovci and laid four foundation stones for the new church.
In his address, Bishop Lukijan called for reconciliation and forgiveness between the Catholic Croats and the Orthodox Serbs.
"We will build this beautiful land, the Republic of Croatia, together, and this temple of God will serve as a seal that the two Christian peoples -- Croats and Serbs -- will continue living together in peace in Vinkovci," the bishop said.
Serb Orthodox parish priest Predrag Azap told reporters that construction work would begin this autumn. He added that the Croatian government would provide 4.5 million kuna for the construction of the church, while interior furnishings would be financed by the Serb Orthodox Church, donors and the faithful.
Bishop Lukijan also visited Ostrovo, where he consecrated a church whose reconstruction was financed by the Croatian Ministry of Culture with 100,000 euros.