Embodiments include an epicardial heart stimulator that includes a housing and electric components arranged in the housing. The electric components include a stimulation unit, a stimulation control unit, and at least one stimulation electrode on the housing. The stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulation unit and to the stimulation control unit. The stimulation unit provides electric energy that corresponds to a stimulation pulse and delivers the stimulation pulse via the stimulation electrode upon a corresponding trigger signal of the stimulation control unit. The epicardial heart stimulator includes a sensing electrode on the housing that senses electric potentials and that is electrically connected to a sensing unit in the housing. The sensing unit is connected to the stimulation control unit. The stimulation control unit, in a corresponding operating mode, controls the delivery of a respective trigger signal in accordance with an output signal of the sensing unit.
