Interestingly, an elderly lady left her group of friends and approached me one day while I was out walking with my wife, and asked why I had one. Then she stated the same "something to hide" thing.

When I explained that I was an Orthodox priest, and that we are canonically required to grow one, she continued pestering me about it, until we wished her a good day and left.

I had to before my wife, who had just about enough of that kind of rudeness, let her have it. She can wither a volcano if she wants to. This poor ol' gal would not have stood a chance.

People don't realize that the origin of shaving is vanity, to exhibit one's pretty face for the ladies (hence the canonical prescription against it)