Abstract: A two-piece heart valve holder engageable by a separate handle for positioning and rotating the heart valve. The holder includes a cylindrically-shaped plug member that has a recessed shoulder at one end and a V-shaped seat at the other end. Two passages extend through the plug member from the one end. A separate grip member includes two legs which extend through the passageways in the plug member. The two legs each include a base member. The two base members are hinged together with the legs biased outwardly, and each leg has an outwardly projecting valve-engaging foot at the distal end thereof. When the upper ends of the legs engage walls defining the passages, the legs are cammed outwardly so that the feet engage the edge of the valve body of the prosthesis to prevent its removal from the plug member. Once the prosthesis is sutured in place, the grip member is released by lifting a tab that extends upwardly from one of the base members.