Yukhari Kilsa is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Boyuk Garakilsa (Gugark) district, and currently in the Lori province. The provincial centre is located 14 km to the southeast of the town of Gugark, on the right bank of the Pambak River and at a height of 1,800 m above sea level.

The village was inhabited by 154 Azerbaijanis in 1918, 96 in 1922, 130 in 1926 and 575 Azerbaijanis in 1987. In November-December 1988 the Azerbaijani inhabitants of the village were forcibly ousted from their historical and ethnic lands by the Armenian state. At present, the village is inhabited by Armenians.

The toponym was coined by combining the words “yukhari” denoting a distinctive feature and “kilsa” which means a religious centre. The name “Kilsa” (later “Yukhari Kilsa”) is related to the Alban church built in the 15th century in the village of Yukhari Kilsa. The Alban Church was destroyed in 1935.

At present, the village is named “Kilisa”.

Geographic coordinates: latitude 40°45’N., longitude 44°25’ E.