Boyuk Garakilsa district was established on September 9, 1930. The administrative center of the district with an area of 766 km² was the city of Boyuk Garakilsa.

The territory of the district was historically included in the Pambak district of the Iravan Khanate, and during Tsarist Russia it was part of the Alexandropol district of Iravan governorate.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated January 3, 1935, the name of the district was changed to “Kirovakan”. In 1964, the district was reorganized and was called “Gugark” until 1995, when it was abolished again.

The toponym is formed by adding the distinctive word “boyuk” (big) to the word “kilsa” (church), which is a reference to the black church of Albanians located in the area.

Since 1987, the native inhabitants of the district – Azerbaijanis were forced to leave their places of residence. In 1995, the district was abolished and included in the administrative territory of Lori province of Armenia.