Linear extensions and order-preserving poset partitions

We examine the lattice of all order congruences of a finite poset from the viewpoint of combinatorial algebraic topology. We will prove that the order complex of the lattice of all nontrivial order congruences (or order-preserving partitions) of a finite n-element poset P with n ≥ 3 is homotopy equivalent to a wedge of spheres of dimension n − 3. If P is connected, then the number of spheres is equal to the number of linear extensions of P . In general, the number of spheres is equal to the number of cyclic extensions of P .