A method for manufacturing a cardiac valve prosthesis is disclosed. This method comprises the following steps: a) shaping human or animal body tissue in a shaping process to give the body tissue a shape of a cardiac valve, and b) fixation and stabilization of the body tissue by a cross-linking agent, thereby preserving the shape given to the body tissue by the shaping process and thus obtaining a cardiac valve prosthesis. Furthermore, a method of implanting an autologous or allogenic cardiac valve prosthesis to an individual in need thereof is disclosed.