Final answer:
The excerpt from 'Animal Farm' refers to the Russian Orthodox Church, which was deeply connected to the Tsarist state and symbolized the prevailing social and political order in Russia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from Animal Farm alludes to the Russian Orthodox Church. This historical group was closely tied to the monarchical government of Tsarist Russia and preached obedience to the Tsar. Representing the dominant religious denomination in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church's relationship with the state symbolized the wider social and political dynamics within Russia during the autocratic Tsarist period and into the Soviet era. This is evident where the excerpt describes the church's link to the government and the serfs' obedience. Animal Farm, by George Orwell, draws a parallel between the church's role in maintaining the status quo and the characters in the novel who resist or uphold the oppressive regime on the farm, mirroring the historical context of the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union.